NC Senate Panel Advances Bill Moving Psychiatric Evals From ERs to Jails
A Senate panel approved a bill Wednesday that would move psychiatric evaluations for jailed suspects out of hospital ERs — a fix to an unintended consequence of North Carolina’s 2025 Iryna’s Law.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — A North Carolina Senate committee approved legislation Wednesday to shift psychiatric evaluations for suspects in custody from hospital emergency rooms to jails, addressing an issue from a 2025 public safety law.
The Senate Health Care Committee advanced House Bill 1104, which bill sponsor Rep. Timothy Reeder (R-Pitt) said aims to correct a problem created by “Iryna’s Law,” a judicial reform package passed in fall 2025 following the killing of Iryna Zarutska by a person with mental illness.
How Iryna’s Law Created a New Problem
Iryna’s Law kept more suspects in custody before trial and required more of them to be taken to hospitals for psychiatric assessments and potential involuntary commitment. Hospital leaders expressed concerns about the safety of patients and staff during evaluations in emergency rooms, preferring these assessments occur in jails.
Reeder, a physician practicing emergency medicine, told the committee that House Bill 1104 would move those evaluations out of emergency departments. He acknowledged the measure is not a comprehensive solution to the state’s mental health system issues, but described it as a step forward.
“I worked there last Friday, and we had no fewer than 30 psychiatric patients in our emergency department,” Reeder said. “You wouldn’t want someone with a violent history sitting next to your child who’s getting treated for an ear infection.”
Bipartisan Concerns About Emergency Room Safety
Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-Durham) said she visited the emergency room twice in the past six months and observed law enforcement officials there frequently dealing with various issues.
“From my own experience I was concerned about the safety of staff, and could clearly tell some of the issues were mental, which is why they were brought there,” Murdock said.
According to NC Newsline, about 40% of the evaluations currently taking place in emergency rooms involve suspects in custody, highlighting the strain Iryna’s Law placed on hospital facilities.
What House Bill 1104 Would Do
Under the legislation, psychiatric assessments for suspects already held in jail would be conducted at those facilities rather than in hospital emergency departments. Supporters argue the change would reduce safety risks in ERs while ensuring that individuals in custody receive the mental health evaluations required under Iryna’s Law.
Reeder framed the bill as a targeted fix rather than a sweeping overhaul, noting that broader improvements to North Carolina’s mental health system remain needed. The bill now advances from the Senate Health Care Committee and will require additional votes before it could become law, according to NC Newsline.
