RALEIGH, N.C. — The leader of the North Carolina House says his chamber won’t debate a “religious freedom” bill this year that supporters promoted as protecting religious liberties but others criticized as legalizing discrimination against LGBT individuals.

House Speaker Tim Moore told reporters Thursday the proposal or anything similar to it won’t move during this session, which is expected to end sometime this summer.

Moore says the bill sponsors have good intentions but the issue has been politically mischaracterized based on reaction to a similar Indiana law.

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The Indiana law got national attention last month, prompting threats of boycotts and lost business.

Democratic lawmakers and big companies with a North Carolina presence have opposed the idea. Republican Gov. Pat McCrory has questioned the need for it.

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