North Carolina Sends 'Iryna's Law' to Governor

North Carolina’s legislature approved House Bill 307, dubbed “Iryna’s Law,” after the Aug. 22 fatal stabbing of 23‑year‑old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s light rail, and sent the GOP‑crafted omnibus criminal‑justice package to Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. The bill narrows pretrial release by limiting cashless/unsecured bail and judicial discretion, expands when mental‑health evaluations must be conducted for those charged with violent offenses, and adds an aggravated sentencing factor for crimes on public transit. It provides modest new funding for prosecutors in Mecklenburg County and increases oversight of magistrates. Republican leaders also added language aimed at reviving the death penalty — including directing officials to identify alternative execution methods — which prompted many Democrats to walk out of the Senate. Supporters pointed to the case of suspect Decarlos Brown Jr., who faces state first‑degree murder and federal charges and had been released previously without bond amid an extensive arrest history and alleged mental‑health issues, while critics say the measure politicizes Zarutska’s death, focuses on punishment over mental‑health care, and does not fully eliminate unsecured bonds. The bill passed with strong Republican majorities (House 82‑30; Senate 28‑8) and now awaits the governor’s decision amid likely legal challenges.