An Upstate lawmaker has pre-filed a measure that would allow businesses to determine which bathroom a transgender customer can use.

The bill, filed by first-year state Rep. Steven Long of Boiling Springs, would prevent local governments from passing a law that requires a private business or other establishment to let someone use the restroom of their choice.

“It says a local government or municipality or town can’t force a business owner to do anything,” Long said. “This allows business owners to make those decisions for themselves.”

The bill is similar to one proposed by former state Sen. Lee Bright last year. Bright's bill was ultimately killed, but not before it caused controversy.

Deb Foreman, a member of the Spartanburg chapter of the Parents, Families, Friends and Allies United with LGBTQ People, was one of several residents who testified at a Senate hearing in April about Bright's "bathroom bill."

Foreman, whose adult son is transgender, said she wasn’t surprised to see the issue come up again.

“It sounds different, but it’s not necessary. There are no bathroom issues in South Carolina regarding the LGBTQ population. We don’t need that type of legislation in this state," she said. “I think disheartening is putting it rather lightly. I think it’s disgusting, quite frankly, that our state has to keep bringing this up."

Bright's bill would have banned transgender people from using bathrooms of their choice. That effort was modeled after a law passed in North Carolina forcing transgender people to use the bathroom of their biological gender.

Monday, the Associated Press reported that outgoing North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory had announced legislators on Wednesday would repeal the law, commonly known as HB2.

HB2 has had several negative impacts on the state, including the loss of the NBA All-Star Game, which was moved to New Orleans, and of several NCAA championship games, including the ACC football championship, which was moved to Orlando.

Long said since his bill isn't as far-reaching as North Carolina's HB2, it shouldn't have a similarly negative impact if signed into law.

"We’re allowing businesses to make their own decisions here," he said. "I don’t think a business would leave the state because of that.”

Long said he thinks his bill stands a better chance than Bright's did to become law because "we're not forcing anyone to do anything."

“It’s a liberty bill," he said. "We’re giving liberty to those businesses that hope to do what they feel is right."

During her testimony in April, Foreman said she reached out to Bright about his legislation, but never heard back from him.

Bright was ignorant of the issues those in the LGBTQ community face, and so is Long, she said.

“I just wish people would be educated regarding the issues with the LGBTQ community and the transgender population,” she said.