Governor signs Iryna's Law after Ukrainian refugee murder

In North Carolina, the state’s Democratic governor, Josh Stein, signed House Bill 307, known as Iryna's Law, on October 4, 2025, in response to the tragic murder of a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, Iryna Zarutska. Iryna was fatally stabbed on August 22, 2025, while riding on a Charlotte light-rail train. The law stems from the outcry surrounding her death, particularly the extensive criminal history of the accused, Decarlos Brown Jr., who had previously been arrested multiple times but was released on bail prior to the incident. The new legislation aims to reform aspects of the criminal justice system by eliminating cashless bail for certain violent offenders and allowing courts to scrutinize the safety risks posed by defendants more closely. However, Governor Stein expressed his concerns about what he called the law's lack of ambition, as he had also proposed additional public safety measures that were not included in the final version of the law. Critics of the bill, including the state NAACP chapter, condemned Stein's decision to sign it. They argued it represented a failure of leadership, emphasizing that he prioritized punitive measures over the need for comprehensive safety reforms, such as increasing mental health services and addressing the root causes of violence. The criticism was compounded by the law's provisions regarding capital punishment, including the potential for alternative execution methods, which sparked further controversy. While the law was viewed by some as a necessary step to prevent further violence after Zarutska's murder, there remains a significant division among lawmakers and advocates regarding the best approaches to enhance public safety without infringing on civil liberties. Governor Stein has called for further comprehensive measures to address violence, particularly relating to mental health and gun control, urging the legislature to consider his broader public safety package in the future.