North Carolina’s Democratic Governor Josh Stein hasn’t yet decided on whether to sign or reject a recently passed crime package known as Irina’s Law. The law is named after Ukrainian refugee Irina Zaltzka, who was fatally stabbed by a repeat offender on a Charlotte train in August.

The bill, officially HB 307, received support from over a third of the state’s Democratic representatives alongside all Republicans, passing with a vote of 81-31. This new legislation aims to enhance the criminal justice system in response to crimes like Zaltzka’s murder, which involved Decarlos Brown—a defendant with a troubling history, having been charged 14 times before being released on cashless bail earlier this year.

Stein is expected to make his decision by October 3. According to a spokesperson, he is currently reviewing the details of the bill. At a recent press conference, Stein emphasized the need for bipartisan solutions to crime, coinciding with reports of another murder in Charlotte.

Matt Mercer from the North Carolina Republican Party criticized Stein, suggesting he is neglecting the severity of crime, particularly in the state’s largest city, which has seen an alarming average of 100 murders annually over the past five years.

Iryna’s Law proposes significant adjustments, such as ending cashless bail for certain offenses, establishing a new category for violent crimes that impacts pretrial release conditions, and limiting judicial discretion regarding early releases. It also seeks to boost the number of assistant district attorneys in Mecklenburg County, where Charlotte is located.

The law includes provisions aimed at expediting the death penalty process in North Carolina, which hasn’t been enforced since 2006, despite having over 120 inmates on death row. If Stein vetoes the bill, it could potentially be overridden by the Republican-majority legislature, which holds a 60% majority in both chambers.

Mercer noted that previous leadership, particularly under former Governor Roy Cooper, had a task force that favored lenient approaches to crime, which he believes failed to address the rising murder rates in cities like Charlotte. He described the current atmosphere as bureaucratic indifference that often overlooks real-world impacts until tragedies occur.

Stein, serving his first term, is eligible for re-election in 2028 and has not responded to inquiries regarding his stance on the law.