CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina lawmakers voted in favor of comprehensive criminal justice legislation dubbed "Iryna's Law" that would end cashless bail for certain violent offenders and expedite death penalty appeals, with Republican leaders citing concerns about institutional control in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

House Bill 307 aims to restore public confidence in the justice system by ensuring violent offenders face stricter consequences and setting more stringent conditions for pretrial release, according to lawmakers supporting the measure. The House approved HB307 by an 82-30 vote on Tuesday afternoon. The legislation now heads to Gov. Stein's desk.

"We're dealing with a local government, really Mecklenburg County and the city of Charlotte, two local governments that i

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