The Civil Justice Subcommittee voted to amend and advance House Bill 491 to allow the State's opioid abatement council to accept settlement funds from Purdue, the Sackler family and other defendants.

Chairman Foreman explained the statute creating the Opioid Abatement Council (established Feb. 2021) governs distribution of settlement proceeds from pharmaceuticals and distributors for abatement efforts. The amendment opens the code section to accept a $90,000,000 settlement from Purdue and the Sackler family and an additional $15,000,000 from other defendants such as McKesson and Johnson & Johnson, the chairman said. The committee recorded 7 ayes, 0 nos and forwarded the bill to full Judiciary as amended.

Why it matters: Opioid-settlement funds are earmarked for abatement programs and public-health interventions; authorizing receipt of additional large settlements changes the pool of funds available to the statewide council and its distribution under existing law.

What happened next: HB 491 goes to full Judiciary as amended to receive the specified settlement funds.