Maryland’s fight against the opioid crisis continues with several new laws now in effect, shaping how resources are used and programs are delivered. MACo carefully reviewed each proposal to assess the effects on counties, which play a central role in local response, recovery, and prevention efforts.
The Department of Legislative Services published a 96-page document sharing legislation that passed during the 2025 legislative session that took effect on July 1, 2025. During the 2025 legislative session, approximately twenty policy proposals related to opioids or overdose response were introduced. Four bills passed that had an effective date of July 1, with others scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2025.
Local governments, particularly through local health departments, play a crucial role in remediating the opioid crisis. They serve as front-line responders to the opioid epidemic, using settlement funds to expand public health and safety interventions. As previously covered by MACo, localized remediation efforts have been highly responsive to the unique needs of individual communities, which often differ across jurisdictions. Local agencies have swiftly implemented several tactics to put settlement funds to effective use, including but not limited to:
- medication assisted treatment
- crisis intervention and stabilization
- harm reduction services
- linkage to care
- mobile crisis response units
- peer specialists and coordination
- school-based prevention
- recovery housing
- naloxone distribution
New Opioid Laws Effective July 1:
HB 94 / SB 224 – Opioid-Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Programs – Appeals and Membership of Standing Advisory Committee
MACo did not take a position on this bill. From the Department of Legislative Services 90-Day Report:
This bill alters the membership of the committee (Standing Advisory Committee on Opioid-Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Programs), and thus the responsibility for chairing the committee and handing appeals of an adverse decision to operate an opioid-associated disease prevention and outreach program, by replacing the Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services with the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary’s designee.
HB 729 / SB 594 – Public Health – Use of Opioid Restitution Fund and Training Under the Overdose Response Program
MACo supported this bill. HB 729 / SB 594 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. The bill removes any confusion and unnecessary barriers in the administration of these funds by aligning exhibit E in the National Settlement Agreement with Maryland’s statute. Individuals can look at one document and know all of the allowable uses for these funds.
HB 728 / SB 495 – Opioid Restitution Fund – Authorized Uses
MACo opposed this legislation as it was drafted. This bill would create an avenue for money designated for victims and mitigation efforts through the Opioid Restitution Fund to be redirected to the Office of the Attorney General for attorneys’ fees and operating expenses. There was concern that such deductions could undermine critical remediation work in local jurisdictions that are doing recovery work in communities every day as a result of the devastating consequences of the opioid crisis. As amended, this bill clarifies a set amount to be redirected to the Attorney General’s Office as well as specifies a date when the withdrawals would conclude. The bill passed in this amended form, balancing the short-term need to support OAG’s ongoing recovery efforts with the long-term goal of preserving settlement funds for community-based remediation.
HB 1131 – Public Health – Buprenorphine – Training Grant Program and Workgroup
This bill establishes the Buprenorphine Training Grant Program to assist counties with offsetting the cost of training paramedics to administer buprenorphine. Additionally, HB 1131 requires the Maryland Office of Overdose Response (MOOR) to convene a workgroup to study access to buprenorphine in the State. The program will operate for five years. The workgroup must publish its findings in a report by December 31, 2025.
Stay tuned to the Conduit Street for more information.
