North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein (D) on Friday signed into law new criminal justice legislation in honor of Iryna Zarutska, 23, who was killed while in transit on the Charlotte light rail in August.

House Bill 307, also referenced as "Iryna’s Law," was overwhelmingly approved by the Tar Heel State’s Legislature, where Republicans hold the majority in both chambers.

The law will lower hurdles for the death penalty in North Carolina by removing prior barriers that barred executions and will also require the swift review of death penalty appeals filed within two years. Any appeal or motion filed more than two years ago must be scheduled for hearing by December 2026, and the hearing must take place by December 2027, according to the legislative text.

Under the new law, certain violent offende

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