North Carolina Passes Iryna's Law with Death Penalty Measures

North Carolina lawmakers gave final approval to House Bill 307, known as “Iryna’s Law,” after the Republican‑authored omnibus criminal‑justice package passed the House 81–31 and cleared the Senate; it now heads to Gov. Josh Stein, who is reviewing the measure. The bill — driven by outrage after the Aug. 22 stabbing death of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s light rail — restricts cashless bail, limits magistrates’ and judges’ pretrial discretion, and requires more mental‑health evaluations before release. It also adds sentencing enhancements for crimes on public transit, allocates roughly $1.6 million to Mecklenburg County for additional prosecutors, and mandates studies on integrating mental‑health checks while providing little new funding for treatment. Lawmakers included provisions aimed at overcoming legal barriers to resume executions, authorizing methods such as the firing squad or electric chair, a move that widened partisan splits and prompted walkouts. Supporters said the package responds to repeat‑offender “catch‑and‑release” failures, while critics and civil‑rights groups warned it could disproportionately harm poor defendants and lacks investment in services.