Bill > HB848

This bill creates the Opioid Settlement Fund Committee, a 15-member body composed of state government officials and organizational leaders, to manage and disburse funds from opioid litigation settlements. The committee's primary purpose is to annually select grant recipients and allocate money received from settlements with opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The committee can award grants to support various programs including drug education and prevention in schools, nonprofit chemical dependency centers, drug court programs, healthcare institutions, and other entities that align with settlement agreements. The Attorney General will oversee the committee, convene its initial meeting within six months of the act's passage, and be responsible for creating grant application processes and rules. The bill requires the Attorney General to submit an annual itemized financial report to the Legislature and State Auditor by January 5th each year, and allows electronic fund transfers to the Opioid Settlement Fund. The bill specifically mentions settlements with companies like Cardinal Health, McKesson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and others, and ensures that settlement funds cannot lapse into the general fund at the end of a fiscal year. The committee is administratively attached to the Attorney General's office and is designed to strategically use opioid settlement funds to address substance abuse and related healthcare challenges in Mississippi.

Health and Social Services, Justice

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0848.xml