RALEIGH, N.C. — A sweeping crime bill that would toughen bail rules, mandate mental health evaluations, and revive North Carolina’s death penalty is now on Governor Josh Stein’s desk, awaiting his decision. The legislation, known as Iryna’s Law (House Bill 307), passed the Republican-led legislature following the stabbing death of a Ukrainian refugee in Charlotte earlier this year.
The bill is named after 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, who was killed on a Charlotte light-rail train in August. The suspect in the case, a repeat offender with a history of mental illness, had previously been released on a written promise to appear in court. Lawmakers say her death underscored flaws in the state’s pretrial release system and inspired the push for stricter rules.
Under the proposal, magistrates and judges would be barred from granting “cashless bail” to individuals accused of violent crimes. Judicial officers would be required to weigh a defendant’s criminal history before setting conditions of release and to issue written justifications for their decisions. The bill also gives courts new authority to impose house arrest, GPS monitoring, or secured bonds. Magistrates who fail to follow these requirements could face suspension.
The legislation also adds a mental health dimension to pretrial decisions. It requires evaluations for defendants charged with violent crimes if they show signs of being a danger to themselves or others, or if they were involuntarily committed in the past three years. If the evaluation supports commitment, the court must begin proceedings. Lawmakers also ordered a broader study on how North Carolina’s justice system addresses defendants with mental illness.
One of the most contentious pieces of the bill is its attempt to restart the death penalty in North Carolina. The measure introduces a new aggravating factor for capital punishment when murders occur on public transportation, accelerates appeal timelines, and requires hearings to take place in the county of conviction. It also authorizes alternative execution methods—including electrocution, firing squad, or nitrogen gas—if lethal injection is ruled unconstitutional or unavailable. North Carolina has not carried out an execution since 2006.
Supporters argue the bill strengthens public safety and restores accountability in the justice system. Critics counter that it revives costly and inequitable capital punishment while providing no new funding for mental health services. Governor Stein, a Democrat, has not indicated whether he will sign the measure. If he approves it, the law could face immediate court challenges and reignite debate over the role of capital punishment in North Carolina.
