On February 18, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Finance Committee in support of SB 594 – Public Health – Use of Opioid Restitution Fund and Training Under the Overdose Response Program with amendments.
This bill makes necessary improvements to the existing framework governing the use of Opioid Restitution Fund (ORF) dollars, expanding the range of allowable uses to better align with the National Settlement Agreement.
Under current law, these funds are restricted to a specific list of activities outlined in §7-331 of the State Finance and Procurement Article, which predates the final terms of the National Settlement Agreement. SB 594 would modernize the law to ensure local governments have the clarity needed to address the opioid crisis comprehensively and effectively.
MACo strongly supports the bill’s intent to repeal the outdated statutory list and replace it with language referencing the National Settlement Agreement, which provides a broader and more adaptable framework for deploying settlement funds. This change acknowledges that opioid-related harm reduction and response efforts continue to evolve, and counties require a wider range of eligible expenditures to meet the unique needs of their communities.
SB 594’s cross-file, HB 729, was heard on February 19 in the House Health and Government Operations Committee. Karrington Anderson testified in support of this bill with amendments.
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