Association Executive Directors Community

Good morning, 

A few of you have asked which states are moving forward with settlement- or abatement-related policies in states related to the opioid litigations. I wanted to share the following examples from a number of states. Some of these policies align with the key principles covered by Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and Legal Action Center better than others. I provided links to the policies that have passed or are in discussion. 

Please reach out for any questions or ideas. There are a number of national experts with whom we can partner to help support you in these efforts. My cell phone number is in my signature if you'd like to discuss these policies at all. 

Opioid Settlement State Actions
State	Measure	Status
California	This legislation passed through the house, but died in committee on the Senate side in Nov. 2020
Colorado	This act establish an advisory group to determine fund allocations from the opioid settlement	Passed 2019
Delaware	Legislation to establish an opioid settlement abatement fund	Passed 2019
Kentucky	HB 427 Introduced Feb 2021
Louisiana	This bill create a commission to evaluate utilization of funds on drug treatment courts	Enacted 2020
Maryland	This bill established opioid restitution fund	Passed 2019
Massachusetts	Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund (HB 5129)	Passed 2020
Michigan	Legislation to establish an opioid settlement abatement fund	Failed 2020
Minnesota	This statute establishes an advisory group to determine fund allocations from the opioid settlement	Passed 2019
Nevada	Introducing legislation this session (link TBD)
New Hampshire	Legislation for an opioid abatement trust fund. The department of health and human services, in consultation with the New Hampshire opioid abatement advisory commission, shall use the fund to support programs associated with the prevention, treatment, and recovery of substance use disorders.	Passed 2020
New York	This bill establishes an opioid settlement fund from money received by the state as result of the settlement of litigation, provides that funds will be used to support programs that combat substance use and addiction issues, and co-occurring mental illnesses, establishes the opioid settlement board which will provide recommendations on how the opioid settlement fund will be utilized	Failed 2020; reintroduced 2021
Oklahoma	HB 4138, which creates the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board, has a minimal fiscal impact on the Attorney General's office for staffing costs. The measure also creates the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Revolving Fund in order to disburse the Board's grants.	Passed 2020
Texas	Attorney General did a resolution	Issued 2020
Utah	Opioid settlement restriction fund	Passed 2020
Virginia	legislature has passed a bill that would create a new state-level body to ensure that funds from lawsuits against opioid makers and distributors are used to support addiction prevention and treatment.	Passed Feb 2021
West Virginia	Legislation to create opioid abatement fund and 25% of settlement dollars to fund the Foster Care Support Fund	Failed 2020
Wisconsin	Legislation to establish abatement fund and foundation	Failed 2020

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Brett Beckerson
Director, Policy & Advocacy
National Council for Behavioral Health
Washington DC
312-860-5790
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