The North Carolina Legislative Building (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)
A bundle of new North Carolina laws, including packages of changes to criminal punishments and the state’s pretrial release process, are set to take effect on Dec. 1.
That includes “Iryna’s Law”, a Republican-led measure that limits pretrial release options for those accused of violent crimes, ramps up scrutiny of court magistrates and attempts to jumpstart the state’s death penalty process.
State lawmakers passed the bill earlier this year after Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian woman, was killed on public transit in Charlotte. That killing sparked national headlines and drew the attention of the White House. House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) has called the new law a “first step to ensure what happened to her never happens again.”
Gov. Josh Stein signed the bill into law in October, praising its changes to pretrial release but calling its attempt to expedite the death penalty process “barbaric.” He also called for the General Assembly to further invest in mental health treatment.
The law requires secured bond or GPS-monitored house arrest for defendants accused of “violent offenses,” as lawmakers aim to prevent magistrates from releasing repeat offenders before trial. And court magistrates who oversee those hearings are now subject to suspension by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby.
“Iryna’s Law” also aims to streamline aspects of the death penalty and open the possibility of resuming executions.
Lethal injection remains the state’s default method of execution, but has been on pause for almost two decades amid continued legal and regulatory challenges. Under the new law, if a court finds the method to be unconstitutional, the state would be required to adopt another method. That could include the electric chair or firing squad.
Stein has said “there will be no firing squads in North Carolina during my time as governor.”
‘Public Safety Act’ creates new felonies, ramps up severity of other penalties
Another criminal justice law will also take effect Dec. 1, creating new criminal penalties and increasing the punishment for existing penalties. It also makes changes to post-conviction court motions, the release of firearms to defendants and out-of-state domestic violence orders.
The “Public Safety Act of 2025” also:
Creates new felony charges for exposing a child under 16 years old to a controlled substance. Makes all instances of solicitation of minors by computer into more severe felonies. Allows an out-of-state resident to pursue a protective order against another person for acts that have occurred within the state. Creates the felony crime of “habitual domestic violence” if a person has repeated convictions of domestic violence. The new felony is a more severe violation than the defendant’s most recent violation. Increases severity of felonies for possession and sale of fentanyl and carfentanil. Requires defendants to file motions for relief after conviction within seven years of one of the events that led to that conviction. Allows a sheriff to release surrendered firearms to a defendant without a court order if the defendant is not otherwise barred from having them. The sheriff must conduct a criminal history check before doing so.Other North Carolina laws taking effect Dec. 1
More new criminal penalties: Creates a variety of new criminal penalties, including the unlawful sale and possession of embalming fluid and larceny of gift cards. Also increases punishments for other offenses, including larceny of mail and assaulting a utility or communications worker.
Online sexual exploitation: Requires online sites to establish procedures to remove pornographic images upon request. Allows the attorney general to pursue action against users or site operators who violate the law. Also requires the state registrar to maintain copies of previous birth certificates when a person requests to have their sex changed on their certificate.
(A separate, controversial section of the law, which defines “biological sex” and “male” and “female” among other terms, takes effect Jan. 1.) The law was vetoed by Stein and overridden by lawmakers.
Auditor investigations: Allows the state auditor to audit or investigate any entity that receives state or federal dollars. The bill was vetoed by Gov. Josh Stein and overridden by lawmakers.
Nondiscrimination in disaster recovery: Makes it a felony to discriminate based on political affiliation while providing disaster recovery assistance. The law was spurred by a report of a FEMA supervisor in Florida instructing workers to avoid homes with Trump flags or signs after Hurricane Milton.
Squatter removal: Allows property owners to pursue an expedited process to remove squatters.
Tinted windows: Removes window tinting from state safety inspection requirements. Drivers with tinted windows must roll down the window when a law enforcement officer approaches.
Nonprofit records disclosure: Bars public agencies from collecting or releasing unnecessary information about 501(c) nonprofit organizations’ donors, members or volunteers. It was vetoed by Stein and overridden by lawmakers.
Continuing care retirement communities: Makes a number of changes to licensure, certification and other regulations for continuing care retirement communities.
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