Copperas Cove approves joining Texas' Kroger opioid settlement; city to receive about $10,000 over 15 years

The Copperas Cove City Council on Jan. 7 approved Resolution No. 2025‑2 to join the State of Texas in the Kroger opioid settlement and authorized Mayor Dan D. Yancey to sign the Kroger Texas settlement participation form.

City staff told the council the Kroger settlement is part of a series of opioid‑related settlements the Texas Office of the Attorney General has negotiated with manufacturers and distributors since 2021. Staff said the Kroger settlement would make Copperas Cove eligible to receive approximately $10,000 in total over a 15‑year payment schedule. Staff also explained that by participating in the statewide settlement jurisdictions waive the right to pursue separate, individual litigation against the settling company.

The council voted to adopt the resolution; the motion carried with the members present voting in favor. City staff and the council noted the amount expected from Kroger is modest for the city but that the city has participated in the previous statewide settlements and that the funding can be used for opioid‑related response and prevention measures.

What the resolution does: authorizes the mayor to execute the Kroger settlement participation form with the Texas Attorney General’s office and accept settlement disbursements under the statewide allocation. What it does not do: it does not require independent litigation by the city and it waives the city’s right to pursue a separate Kroger lawsuit.

Next steps: the mayor will sign the participation form and the city will be enrolled in the distribution schedule; staff will manage any receipt of funds and report uses consistent with settlement terms.