Reece Pyrtle, a representative for North Carolina House District 65, announced that the legislature has passed “Iryna’s Law,” which was proposed following the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska. Pyrtle called on Governor Josh Stein to take action on the bill. The statement was made on X.
“The General Assembly has done its job and passed Iryna’s Law,” said Armor Reece Pyrtle, North Carolina State Representative for 65th District (R). “Now it’s time for Gov. Stein to do his.”
According to the Associated Press, the North Carolina legislature gave final approval to “Iryna’s Law” on Tuesday, passing it by margins of 81–31 in the House and 28–8 in the Senate. The bill has been forwarded to Governor Josh Stein for his signature or veto. Stein’s office confirmed he is reviewing the bill but has not yet committed to signing or vetoing it. Under North Carolina procedure, if the governor takes no action within a prescribed period, a bill becomes law automatically, meaning that if Stein does not act by the deadline, “Iryna’s Law” would take effect without his signature.
Newsweek reports that “Iryna’s Law” aims to change pretrial release rules by restricting or eliminating cashless bail in many cases involving alleged violent offenses. This measure seeks to reduce the possibility of accused individuals being released solely on a promise to appear. The legislation would require judicial officers to consider defendants’ criminal histories before setting release conditions and provide written explanations for their decisions, thereby increasing accountability in pretrial decision-making. Furthermore, Newsweek notes that the legislation proposes additional oversight by mandating more mental health evaluations and raising stricter penalties in certain public-transport crime cases.
As reported by Carolina Journal, “Iryna’s Law” would expand prosecutors’ ability to seek the death penalty in cases similar to Iryna Zarutska’s killing, directly linking the bill to that case’s facts and public momentum. It also requires judges and magistrates granting pretrial release to provide written findings and reasoning, with noncompliance risking suspension or removal—a significant increase in judicial accountability. The bill further tasks the N.C. Collaboration with studying mental health’s role in justice, exploring alternative release options like house arrest, and considering backup execution methods if lethal injection is unavailable.
Reece Pyrtle is a North Carolina state representative and former law enforcement leader who has played an active role in public safety policy. Before entering the legislature, Pyrtle served as police chief of Eden, North Carolina, where he worked for decades on crime reduction and community safety initiatives. His experience in law enforcement and his legislative role position him as one of the figures influencing criminal justice reforms in the state.
