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Bell County signs onto Texas attorney general's Kroger opioid settlement participation agreement
Summary
The court authorized the County Judge to sign a participation agreement that makes Bell County eligible for potential disbursements and Texas Opioid Council grants under the Kroger statewide settlement; staff said disbursement timing and exact amounts remain subject to state-level decisions.
The Bell County Commissioners Court voted Dec. 2 to authorize the County Judge to execute a participation agreement with the Texas attorney general's office related to the statewide Kroger opioid settlement, allowing the county to apply for disbursements and grant opportunities administered through the Texas Opioid Council.
County staff told the court that political subdivisions across Texas have been encouraged to participate to be eligible for monetary relief payments tied to the settlement. A staff presenter (Kylie) said distribution mechanics are being finalized at the state level and that the county does not yet have certainty on how much it will receive or when. "We're not entirely sure which settlement agreement the money is coming from ... I'm gonna try and call the AG's office this week and see if we can figure out specifically which settlement," Kylie said. The staff presentation also noted a previously received disbursement in the past two years under another settlement ("just a little under $250,000" in two payments in 2023 and 2024) but did not identify that prior settlement by name.
Kylie explained Bell County has an agreed-upon rate used for allocation by the Texas opioid council (stated in the meeting as roughly 0.004%), and that participation opens the county to potential Texas Opioid Council grants aimed at prevention and local response to the opioid crisis. Commissioners approved the County Judge executing the participation agreement by voice vote.
The court did not commit the county to a particular expenditure plan in this item: the action makes the county eligible for future disbursements and grant opportunities; staff said reporting rules and allowable uses will be determined by the Texas opioid council and the terms of future disbursement guidelines.
