RALEIGH, N.C. -- This week marks one year since North Carolina did away with its controversial law known as HB 2.

The law, often referred to as the “bathroom bill”, drew fiery protests on both sides of the issue and ultimately created multiple travel bans to North Carolina from other state governments and many performers.

Legislators struck a deal with Governor Roy Cooper to repeal the law last March, but political observers say it is still on the forefront of state politics.

“It is still a cultural issue and I don't think it can be resolved with the election of 2018, or even the foreseeable future,” says David McLennan with Meredith College.  “Because it is still that lightening rod issue.  Both sides are going to use, to some degree perhaps in 2018, it may not be the most important issue.  But you can see that there will be flashpoints.”

For tourism, officials throughout the state say there is a noticeable difference since the repeal, but they also say the effects are still tangible.

“We still have some groups where some of their attendees are, they still don't know exactly what occurred,” says Dennis Edwards, Greater Raleigh Visitor and Convention Center President and CEO.  “And what to expect when they come to Raleigh or Wake County.”           

Under the repeal, local governments are banned from passing their own LGBTQ protections until 2020.