Senate Appropriations advances H.218, including $1.1 million for Burlington overdose prevention center pilot

The Senate Appropriations Committee on April 22 voted to pass H.218, advancing legislation that would appropriate opioid-abatement settlement funds for a range of programs, including a $1.1 million allocation intended for an overdose prevention center pilot in the city of Burlington.

The bill would appropriate a total of $9,888,000 from the opioid-abatement special fund for the items detailed in the fiscal note; Lowell Langwall of the fiscal office told the committee that since 2023 the state has received about $26,000,000 in settlement revenue, spent roughly $14,000,000 and currently has about $12,000,000 unappropriated prior to enactment of H.218.

Why it matters: The legislation directs how one-time and settlement-derived dollars are used to reduce substance use disorder across criminal justice, prevention and local service grants. Committee members and staff flagged that the settlement payments are front-loaded and that future annual receipts are expected to fall, meaning the special fund may not sustain the same level of spending in later years without new settlement proceeds.

Committee discussion and…