ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Legislature approved the distribution of the $300 million that the state is receiving from the opioid industry to settle lawsuits. The vote was unanimous in both the Senate and House. State Representative Liz Olson, D-Duluth, was the chief author of the legislation.“This will enable cities, counties, tribal governments, and the state to use funding from this historic settlement effectively and efficiently to continue combating the crisis as quickly as dollars come in.” She called the settlement “accountability in action.” This is the southeast Minnesota breakdown:
> Olmsted County: $4.3 million.
> Mower County: $1.3 million.
> Winona County: $1.7 million.
>Houston County: $888,000.
> Wabasha County: $688,000.
> Fillmore County: $517,000.
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Olson. Engineered pass-through legislation of opioid settlement moneys to local governments. A Democrat.House deputy majority leader. First elected 2016.