Iryna Zarutska, 23, was killed in North Carolina while minding her own business while riding on the Lynx Blue Line light rail train. Her killer was a 14-time repeat offender who enjoyed the soft-on-crime policies of the state.

However, those policies are changing rapidly in the wake of the young woman's death, as state Republicans are close to having Iryna’s Law, which removes judicial obstacles for the death penalty, among other changes, signed by the governor.

According to JustTheNews, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein received the bill to sign after its Swift passage in the state's General Assembly.

The law, which gained support from 17 state Democrats, among other reforms to the criminal court system, will make it more difficult for violent offenders to be released from prison so easily.

What's going on?

The law, which would drastically change the North Carolina court system for the better on the crime front, changes multiple policies and rules.

The outlet noted:

The legislation will stop cashless bail for some charges; remove the broad discretion of magistrates; and make it more difficult for repeat offenders to get out of jail. There is a new category of “violent offenses” that requires certain conditions for pretrial release, inclusive of GPS monitoring.

Gov. Stein, a first-term governor, will have until Oct. 3 to either sign, veto, or not sign the bill. The first and last options would allow the bill to become law.

Many state Republicans who were either behind the bill or supported it released statements upon its quick passing.

"My Democratic colleagues talk a lot about ‘mercy’ and ‘kindness,’" Rep. Brenden Jones, R-Columbus said. "But where was the kindness for Iryna? Where was the mercy in letting a 14-time repeat offender roam free, only to end her life? This isn’t compassion. It’s chaos, and I am standing against it."

A staggering 17 Democrats were able to put aside politics and work with state Republicans to pass the much-needed reform.

JustTheNews noted:

The Democrats on record in support included Reps. Kanika Brown of Forsyth County; Terry Brown, Laura Budd, Beth Helfrich, Brandon Lofton, Carolyn Logan, Nasif Majeed of Mecklenburg County; Bryan Cohn of Granville County; Ya Liu and Tim Longest of Wake County; Garland Pierce of Scotland County; Rodney Pierce of Halifax County; Dante Pittman of Wilson County; Lindsey Prather and Brian Turner of Buncombe County; Robert Reives of Chartham County; and Charles Smith of Cumberland County.

Social media reacts

Users across social media reacted to the passing of the bill.

🚨#BREAKING: The NC House of Representatives has just passed “Iryna’s Law” which ends cashless bail for violent criminals.

You have not been forgotten, Iryna ❤️ pic.twitter.com/HnTSepkJ0w

— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) September 23, 2025

"Iryna’s Law needs to be instituted nationwide," one X user wrote.