title
An ordinance establishing requirements for the administration, transparency, and reporting of funds received by the Metropolitan Government in connection with litigation-related claims against opioid manufacturers, distributors and related entities.
body
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County has received and is expected to continue receiving funds from opioid litigation and related settlements over multiple years; and
WHEREAS, the Office of Internal Audit issued an Audit of Opioid Settlement Funds on June 10, 2026, which identified areas for improvement in governance, financial reporting, monitoring, documentation, and evaluation; and
WHEREAS, opioid claim funds should be used in accordance with requirements set forth in any applicable agreements and based on public health data, community needs, and evidence-based practices; and
WHEREAS, opioid claim funds will be received and expended over multiple fiscal years and terms of office, and requirements for planning, transparency, performance measurement, and reporting should remain in place regardless of changes in administrative or advisory structures; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council desires to establish those requirements without altering the authority of the Metropolitan Board of Health under the Metropolitan Charter or applicable law.
WHEREAS, overdose deaths and substance use disorder remain acute public-health crises in Nashville and Davidson County and require coordinated, evidence-based, and community-centered responses; and
WHEREAS, opioid settlement funds present an important opportunity to invest in prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery support, community education, research, and systems improvements, but such investments must be guided by clear priorities, transparent public reporting, and measurable outcomes; and
WHEREAS, the University of Tennessee’s Substance Misuse and Addiction Resource for Tennessee (“SMART”) Initiative provides guidance and be...
Click here for full text