Attorney General Dana Nessel outlines office activities, budgetary impact and legislative priorities to Judiciary Committee

Attorney General Dana Nessel told the House Judiciary Committee that the Michigan Department of Attorney General handles tens of thousands of matters annually, returns significant recoveries to the state and has a portfolio of programs addressing opioids, elder abuse, organized retail crime, human trafficking and juvenile diversion.

Nessel said the department handles about 48,000 cases per year (not including active investigations, expungement applications or trainings) and that the office operates on roughly one‑third of 1 percent of the state general fund. She said the department’s work returned hundreds of millions of dollars to Michigan in 2024 and that settlements and judgments generate revenue distinct from taxes and fees.

The Attorney General provided program details and recent results: - Opioid litigation: Nessel said the state has negotiated more than $1.63 billion in settlement awards to date (transcript figure given as approximately "1,634,000,000"); $282 million has been paid into the Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund and local governments have received more than $176…