Under growing pressure from MAGA-aligned Republicans, Democratic Governor Josh Stein has officially signed “Iryna’s Law,” sparking major backlash from civil rights advocates.
The new legislation comes in direct response to the tragic August 2025 stabbing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally attacked on Charlotte’s light rail system. The gruesome killing reignited debates across the state about public safety, bail reform, and mental health accountability.
What’s in “Iryna’s Law”?
Passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly, Iryna’s Law significantly tightens pretrial release rules for individuals accused of violent crimes. The law:
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Eliminates cashless bail for anyone charged with a violent offense.
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Mandates secured bond or house arrest with electronic monitoring if a judge grants pretrial release.
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Restricts judicial discretion for “promise to appear” releases, especially for repeat violent offenders.
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Requires mental health evaluations for defendants with a history of involuntary commitment or who appear in crisis.
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Allows involuntary commitment before release if the evaluation finds the person poses a public danger.
Stein had expressed concern that the bill didn’t do enough to address the actual danger individuals may pose, focusing instead on their ability to afford bail. He also criticized a last-minute amendment added by Republican lawmakers, which instructs prison officials to adopt alternative execution methods if necessary.
He said this could potentially lead to executions by firing squad in North Carolina.
While the bill does not specifically authorize any new execution methods, it does require the Department of Adult Correction to use a method currently employed in another state if lethal injection—the only legal method in North Carolina at the moment—is found unconstitutional or cannot be carried out.
Pushback From Civil Rights Groups
The North Carolina NAACP didn’t hold back, urging Stein to veto the bill altogether.
NC NAACP President Deborah Dicks Maxwell called Iryna’s Law “reactionary, not reformative.”
In a video statement, Governor Josh Stein said that when he reviews public safety legislation that comes to his desk, he uses one simple test: “Does it make people safer?”
And that’s why he has signed HB 307 into law.
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