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House adopts amendment to create public dashboard tracking opioid settlement spending; bill special‑ordered for amendment
Summary
Delegates adopted committee amendments requiring state, county, and municipal websites to publish opioid settlement spending and directed the Maryland Department of Health to upload settlement information submitted by local governments. The sponsor agreed to a special order to allow possible amendments.
The House adopted committee amendments to House Bill 798, which requires the Maryland Department of Health to maintain an interactive public dashboard that tracks use of opioid litigation settlement funds and requires state, county, and municipal websites to provide access to local reporting on settlement spending.
Committee amendments added technical sponsors and required MDH to upload opioid‑related settlement information that counties or municipalities submit in compliance with settlement terms. The amendment also clarifies that localities complying with existing reporting obligations will be determined to have met the bill’s requirements.
On the floor, delegates asked whether the dashboard would specify categories such as prevention education, naloxone, harm‑reduction or recovery housing. The floor leader said the bill clarifies spending categories such as prevention education and naloxone distribution but does not mandate a specific recovery housing allocation. At a sponsor’s request the House agreed to special‑order the bill until the appropriate time tomorrow to allow consideration of a possible amendment related to recovery programs.
Why it matters: The bill increases public transparency around settlement funds derived from opioid litigation and could inform oversight and local allocation choices.
Next steps: HB 798 was special‑ordered so members can propose amendments; MDH and local governments would be required to meet online reporting obligations if the bill advances.
