States, Cities and Counties
Here's a look at documents covering state government, cities and counties
Featured Stories
Pa. Department of State Introduces Redesigned, User-Friendly Provisional Ballot Envelopes
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 15 -- The Pennsylvania Department of State issued the following news release on July 14, 2025:
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Department of State Introduces Redesigned, User-Friendly Provisional Ballot Envelopes
The redesign aims to decrease the number of rejected provisional ballots, allowing more eligible Pennsylvanians' votes to be counted
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Harrisburg, PA - Continuing the Shapiro Administration's commitment to strengthening our democracy and keeping our elections safe and secure, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced today that the Department of State has redesigned
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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 15 -- The Pennsylvania Department of State issued the following news release on July 14, 2025:
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Department of State Introduces Redesigned, User-Friendly Provisional Ballot Envelopes
The redesign aims to decrease the number of rejected provisional ballots, allowing more eligible Pennsylvanians' votes to be counted
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Harrisburg, PA - Continuing the Shapiro Administration's commitment to strengthening our democracy and keeping our elections safe and secure, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced today that the Department of State has redesignedthe provisional ballot envelopes that counties use in an effort to improve legibility and make the envelope more user friendly.
"Every registered voter in our Commonwealth should have the opportunity to cast their vote and make their voice heard in each election," Schmidt said during a press conference in Philadelphia. "We believe these changes to the provisional ballot envelopes will have a positive impact, just as the changes we made to mail ballot materials two years ago did."
This envelope update follows the Shapiro Administration's successful redesign of mail ballot envelopes and materials in 2023. Those redesigned materials resulted in the November 2024 general election seeing a 57% decrease in mail ballot rejections.
In that same election, 29.12% of the provisional ballots cast in Pennsylvania were rejected. The most common reason for a rejected provisional ballot was that the voter was not registered; the second-most-common reason was an incomplete provisional ballot envelope.
The redesigned envelopes feature a layout that clearly instructs voters which fields they must fill out, including highlighting the two places where the envelope must be signed. The envelopes also streamline the process for election workers, identifying which fields they need to complete before and after the voter completes their provisional ballot.
The Department received design feedback from county elections officials in Philadelphia, Berks, Butler, Mercer, and Greene counties, who specifically mentioned the need for enhanced usability for voters and poll workers alike.
"During this redesign process, we listened to our county election officials who told us the design of the provisional ballot envelopes led to missing signatures and incomplete envelopes, which ultimately led to the ballots being rejected," Schmidt said. "I want to thank the county election officials who worked with us in this redesign process, which is another step toward ensuring that Pennsylvania elections remain free, fair, safe, and secure."
"The redesign of the ballot envelope simplifies the process of voting provisionally, and that means fewer errors and fewer rejected ballots," said Omar Sabir, Chairman of the Philadelphia City Commissioners. "It's an important part of ensuring that every eligible vote gets counted, and we're proud to lead this multi-county effort alongside our partners at the Department of State."
"I'm extremely proud of the work that went into redesigning the provisional ballot envelope," Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein said. "Improvements to envelope design such as these may appear small, but they can make a big difference in reducing errors that might prevent Pennsylvanians from exercising their right to vote."
Schmidt said he expects counties to use the new voter- and poll-worker-friendly materials in the 2025 general election. To help counties with the cost of replacing their current provisional ballot envelopes, the Department is offering grant money to counties who opt to use the new envelopes.
County elections officials may ask a voter to vote by provisional ballot under certain conditions. A provisional ballot voter is asked to follow these instructions:
* Complete in front of election officials the sections on the provisional ballot envelope labeled Voter Affidavit, Voter Signature #1, and Voter's Current Address.
* Mark the provisional ballot in an accessible and private area of the polling place.
* Seal the provisional ballot in the secrecy envelope.
* Seal the secrecy envelope in the provisional ballot affidavit envelope.
* Fill out in front of polling place election officials the Voter Signature #2 section on the provisional ballot envelope.
* Return the sealed provisional ballot affidavit envelope to a polling place election official.
* Receive a provisional ballot identification receipt.
Within seven days after the election, county boards of elections decide whether each provisional ballot vote should be counted.
For more information on voting in Pennsylvania, including mail and provisional ballots, call the Department of State's year-round voter hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA, visit vote.pa.gov, or follow #ReadytoVotePA on social media.
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Original text here: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/newsroom/department-of-state-introduces-redesigned-provisional-ballot-env
Mo. Gov. Kehoe Signs Ten Bills Into Law
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, July 15 -- Gov. Mike Kehoe, R-Missouri, issued the following news release on July 14, 2025:
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Governor Kehoe Signs Ten Bills into Law
Jefferson City -- This afternoon, Governor Mike Kehoe signed ten pieces of legislation into law: Senate Bills (SB) 105, 133, 145, and 271, and House Bills (HB) 145, 147, 225, 262, 595, and 596.
"Our bill signings this afternoon marked the official conclusion of an incredibly successful legislative session," said Governor Kehoe. "We appreciate the members the General Assembly for sending several pieces of common-sense legislation
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JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, July 15 -- Gov. Mike Kehoe, R-Missouri, issued the following news release on July 14, 2025:
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Governor Kehoe Signs Ten Bills into Law
Jefferson City -- This afternoon, Governor Mike Kehoe signed ten pieces of legislation into law: Senate Bills (SB) 105, 133, 145, and 271, and House Bills (HB) 145, 147, 225, 262, 595, and 596.
"Our bill signings this afternoon marked the official conclusion of an incredibly successful legislative session," said Governor Kehoe. "We appreciate the members the General Assembly for sending several pieces of common-sense legislationto my desk that will positively impact Missouri families and communities."
SB 105, sponsored by Senator Mike Bernskoetter and Representative Bruce Sassmann, modifies provisions relating to invasive plants.
* Combats the proliferation of nonnative invasive plant species in Missouri.
* Prohibits nurseries and nursery dealers from knowingly and intentionally importing, exporting, buying, selling, transporting, distributing, or propagating certain nonnative invasive species in Missouri.
- Plants affected: Climbing Euonymus (Fortune's spindle), Japanese
- Honeysuckle, Sericea Lespedeza, Perilla Mint, Burning Bush, and Callery Pear.
SB 133, sponsored by Senator Travis Fitzwater and Representative Josh Hurlbert, modifies and creates new provisions relating to underground facilities.
* Makes critical updates to Missouri's 811 system to evolve with technological advancements and the modern needs of both excavators and underground facility owners.
- Updates statute to align with Common Ground Alliance best practices.
- Requires underground facilities to be installed with detectible underground tracking systems.
- Reduces liability for excavators when proper standards were followed but they were given incorrect information.
- Increases 811 Board representation for contractors and underground facility owners.
SB 145, sponsored by Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman and Representative David Casteel, modifies provisions relating to the taxation of certain businesses.
* Promotes youth entrepreneurship by exempting businessowners 18 years or younger from certain municipal corporation and charter city licensing fees and requirements.
SB 271, sponsored by Senator Rusty Black and Representative Dane Diehl, modifies provisions relating to emergency services.
* Establishes that no fire protection or fire prevention ordinances shall impose regulations of farm buildings or farm structures.
* Updates emergency medical services standards to provide more training and require audits of ambulance districts.
* Expands the protection to any unpaid person who helps during an emergency under the Good Samaritan law.
HB 145, sponsored by Representative Bill Falkner and Senator Mike Henderson, modifies provisions of the Judicial Privacy Act and the Missouri Sunshine Law.
* Expands privacy protections for court-related officers.
* Adds Sunshine Law exemptions to protect minors, park visitors, and endangered species locations.
* Updates rules for public record requests, including upfront fees.
HB 147, sponsored by Representative Barry Hovis and Senator Rusty Black, modifies provisions relating to retirement.
* Creates new avenues for funding the Sheriffs' Retirement System.
* Restricts Missouri Public Employee Retirement Systems from investing in entities that are sanctioned by the United States.
* Prohibits the investment fiduciary of a public employee retirement system from considering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors.
HB 225, sponsored by Representative Jeff Myers and Senator Justin Brown, modifies provisions relating to public safety.
* Increases the compensation for a line of duty death from $25,000 to $100,000, extends the statute of limitations for when someone must file for the compensation from one year to two, and adds that families can be compensated if a first responder dies of an illness that was contracted in the line of duty. The death must occur within three hundred weeks of when the illness was contracted.
* Modifies requirements for police vehicles to no longer have to use their lights and sirens when the vehicle is being used to get evidence of a speeding violation, respond to a suspected crime in progress, or conduct surveillance of a vehicle.
* Establishes the offense of interference with a first responder making it a Class B Misdemeanor.
HB 262, sponsored by Representative Chris Brown and Senator Rick Brattin, establishes the "Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment and Recovery Act."
* Creates provisions relating to alternative therapies for veterans with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, allowing for any facility that does hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for treatment of PTSD to receive reimbursement of that treatment at no charge to the veteran depending on the availability of funding.
HB 595, sponsored by Representative Chris Brown and Senator Nick Schroer, modifies provisions relating to real estate transactions.
* Protects private property rights.
- Prohibits local governments from limiting what factors landlords can or cannot consider in rental-related decisions, including source of income, credit scores, and rental and criminal history.
- Prevents enactment of security deposit ceilings.
* Requires real estate brokers and buyers/tenants to enter into an agreement prior to broker representation beginning.
HB 596, sponsored by Representative Chris Brown and Senator Nick Schroer, modifies a provision relating to brokerage services by requiring brokers have a written agency agreement with buyers prior to engaging in real estate transactions.
For more information on the legislation and additional provisions signed into law, visit house.mo.gov and senate.mo.gov. Photos from the bill signing will be uploaded to Governor Kehoe's Flickr page.
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Original text here: https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-kehoe-signs-ten-bills-law
Md. Natural Resources Dept.: Watershed Education and Stewardship Grants Awarded in Baltimore City, St. Mary's County
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, July 15 -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources issued the following news on July 14, 2025:
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Watershed Education and Stewardship Grants Awarded in Baltimore City, St. Mary's County
Charles County Public School third grade students participate in outdoor field investigations at Piscataway National Park, in Accokeek, Maryland, programming funded by a previous year's US EPA Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant approved through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Grants Gateway. Maryland DNR photo.
Two Maryland organizations will receive support for education
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ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, July 15 -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources issued the following news on July 14, 2025:
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Watershed Education and Stewardship Grants Awarded in Baltimore City, St. Mary's County
Charles County Public School third grade students participate in outdoor field investigations at Piscataway National Park, in Accokeek, Maryland, programming funded by a previous year's US EPA Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant approved through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Grants Gateway. Maryland DNR photo.
Two Maryland organizations will receive support for educationand stewardship programming to enhance environmental education in the state.
Outdoor education and stewardship funding is made possible from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant. Specific amounts will be contingent upon federal funding availability and approval.
The following organizations were awarded funding through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources:
Baltimore City
* National Aquarium - To engage sixth grade students, teachers, and local college interns in learning about the watershed, aquatic species and water quality testing through this program. This program includes teacher-led pre-field experience lessons, a field experience at the Aquarium, student data analysis, and student action projects.
St. Mary's County
* St. Mary's College of Maryland - To develop a multi-year, recurring curriculum in the Environment Students Department to introduce students to the causes of and potential solutions to ecological degradation, community resilience needs related to future conditions and career skills and paths in ecological restoration and resource management.
Beginning in July, the Department of Natural Resources will accept applications for the next fiscal year through the department's online Grants Gateway.
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Original text here: https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2025/07/14/watershed-education-and-stewardship-grants-awarded-in-baltimore-city-st-marys-county/
Nev. A.G. Aaron D. Ford Sues Trump Administration for Freezing $6.8 Billion in Education Grants Just Weeks Before School Year Start
CARSON CITY, Nevada, July 15 -- Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford issued the following news release on July 14, 2025:
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Attorney General Aaron D. Ford Sues Trump Administration for Freezing $6.8 Billion in Education Grants Just Weeks Before School Year Start
Carson City, NV - Today, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford joined a coalition of 25 states in suing the Trump Administration over its unconstitutional, unlawful, and arbitrary decision to freeze funding for six longstanding programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education just weeks before the school year in many parts
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CARSON CITY, Nevada, July 15 -- Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford issued the following news release on July 14, 2025:
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Attorney General Aaron D. Ford Sues Trump Administration for Freezing $6.8 Billion in Education Grants Just Weeks Before School Year Start
Carson City, NV - Today, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford joined a coalition of 25 states in suing the Trump Administration over its unconstitutional, unlawful, and arbitrary decision to freeze funding for six longstanding programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education just weeks before the school year in many partsof Nevada is set to start. Without this funding, many educational programs will shutter - already, ongoing summer learning programs have been left unfunded. The attorneys general argue that the funding freeze violates the federal funding statutes and regulations authorizing these critical programs and appropriating funds for them, violates federal statutes governing the federal budgeting process, including the Antideficiency Act and Impoundment Control Act, and violates the constitutional separation of powers doctrine and the Presentment Clause. They ask the court for declaratory and injunctive relief.
"The Trump Administration's decision to freeze $53 million in critical education funding just weeks before our schools open is not only unconstitutional, but it's a direct attack on Nevada's students and families, said AG Ford. "My office has sued to protect education in our state and defend against yet another attempt at federal overreach by the Trump administration. We will not stand by while the federal government abandons its commitment to our children's future."
For decades, Nevada and other states have used funding under these programs to carry out a broad range of programs and services, including educational programs for migratory children and English learners; programs that promote effective classroom instruction, improve school conditions and the use of technology in the classroom; community learning centers that offer students a broad range of opportunities for academic and extracurricular enrichment; and adult education and workforce development efforts.
Pursuant to federal statutory and regulatory requirements, each year the Department of Education makes around 25% of the funds for these programs available to states on or about July 1 in order to permit state and local educational agencies to plan their budgets for the academic year ahead. The States have complied with the funding conditions set forth under the law and have State plans that the Department of Education has already approved. The States have received these funds, without incident, for decades, including as recently as last year. However, this year, on June 30, state agencies across the country received a notification announcing that the Department of Education would not be "obligating funds for" six formula funding programs on July 1.
This funding freeze has immediately thrown into chaos plans for the upcoming academic year. Local education agencies have approved budgets, developed staffing plans, and signed contracts to provide vital educational services under these grants. Now, as a result of the Trump Administration's actions, States find themselves without sufficient funding for these commitments, just weeks before the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Essential summer school and afterschool programs, which provide childcare to working parents of school age children, are already being impacted. The abrupt freeze is also wreaking havoc on key teacher training programs as well as programs that make school more accessible to children with special learning needs, such as English learners.
In Nevada, an estimated $53 million in federal education funding is frozen - representing 15.3% of the state's total education budget.
But it is Congress, not the Executive Branch, that possesses the power of the purse. The Constitution does not afford the Executive Branch power to unilaterally refuse to spend appropriations that were passed by both houses of Congress and were signed into law. Yet that is exactly what the Trump Administration is attempting to do here. In today's lawsuit, Attorney General Ford and a coalition argue that the Trump Administration's actions violate federal funding statutes and Appropriations Act, Apportionment, the Administrative Procedures Act and U.S. Constitution, including the separation of powers doctrine, equitable ultra vires, and the Presentment Clause. They asked the Court to declare the funding freeze unlawful - as courts have repeatedly done in other multistate cases - and block any attempts to withhold or delay this funding.
Nevada Attorney General Ford joins the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin in filing the lawsuit.
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Original text here: https://ag.nv.gov/News/PR/2025/Attorney_General_Aaron_D__Ford_Sues_Trump_Administration_for_Freezing__8_Billion_in_Education_Grants_Just_Weeks_Before_School_Year_Start/
Md. A.G. Brown Sues Trump Administration for Freezing $6.8 Billion in Education Grants Just Weeks Before School Year Begins
BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 15 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Brown Sues Trump Administration for Freezing $6.8 Billion in Education Grants Just Weeks Before School Year Begins
BALTIMORE, MD (July 14, 2025)- Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of 25 states in suing the Trump administration over its unconstitutional, unlawful, and arbitrary decision to freeze funding for six longstanding programs administered by the U.S.
Department of Education just weeks before the school year is set to start. Without
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 15 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Brown Sues Trump Administration for Freezing $6.8 Billion in Education Grants Just Weeks Before School Year Begins
BALTIMORE, MD (July 14, 2025)- Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of 25 states in suing the Trump administration over its unconstitutional, unlawful, and arbitrary decision to freeze funding for six longstanding programs administered by the U.S.
Department of Education just weeks before the school year is set to start. Withoutthis funding, many educational programs will shutter--already, ongoing summer learning programs have been left unfunded. The attorneys general argue that the funding freeze violates the federal statutes and regulations authorizing these critical programs and appropriating funds for them, violates laws governing the federal budgeting process (including the Antideficiency Act and Impoundment Control Act), and violates the constitutional separation of powers doctrine and the Presentment Clause. They ask the court for declaratory and injunctive relief.
"This reckless funding freeze is directly harming Maryland's students by taking more than $110 million from Maryland K-12 schools and adult education programs, which has jeopardized teacher training, thrown essential special needs services into chaos, and left families scrambling to find childcare before the start of a new school year," said Attorney General Brown.
"Maryland's students are not pawns in political games over government spending--they need and deserve the educational resources that the Trump administration is threatening to cancel." For decades, Maryland and other states have used funding under these programs to carry out a broad range of programs and services, including educational programs for migratory children and English learners; programs that promote effective classroom instruction, improve school conditions and the use of technology in the classroom; community learning centers that offer students a broad range of opportunities for academic and extracurricular enrichment; and adult education and workforce development efforts.
Pursuant to federal statutory and regulatory requirements, each year the Department of Education makes around 25% of the funds for these programs available to states on or about July 1 so that state and local educational agencies can plan their budgets for the academic year ahead.
Maryland and the other Plaintiff States have complied with the funding conditions set forth under the law and have State plans that the Department of Education has already approved. Maryland and the other Plaintiff States have received these funds, without incident, for decades, including as recently as last year. However, this year, on June 30, state agencies across the country received a notification announcing that the Department of Education would not be "obligating funds for" six formula funding programs on July 1.
This funding freeze has immediately thrown into chaos plans for the upcoming academic year. Maryland's local education agencies and adult education programs have approved budgets, developed staffing plans, and signed contracts to provide vital educational services under these grants. Now, as a result of the Trump administration's actions, Maryland and the other Plaintiff States find themselves without sufficient funding for these commitments, just weeks before the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Essential summer school and afterschool programs, which provide childcare to working parents of school age children, are already being impacted. The abrupt freeze is also wreaking havoc on key teacher training programs as well as programs that make school more accessible to children with special learning needs, such as English learners.
To take just one example, for Baltimore City Public Schools, the Trump administration froze slightly more than $11 million that was used to support 29 full-time equivalent positions, purchase instructional materials, and train educators. The loss of these funds threatens to disrupt, among other things, City Schools' significant progress in expanding access to Advanced Placement coursework over the past 10 years.
The $110 million in funds that have been frozen for Maryland are formula funds automatically distributed among the States according to a specific formula provided by Congress. The Constitution does not afford the Executive Branch power to unilaterally refuse to spend this money based on an unspecified difference in "priorities." Yet that is exactly what the Trump administration is attempting to do here.
In today's lawsuit, Attorney General Brown and a coalition argue that the Trump administration's actions violate federal funding statutes and Appropriations Act, Apportionment, the administrative Procedures Act and U.S. Constitution, including the separation of powers doctrine, equitable ultra vires, and the Presentment Clause. They asked the Court to declare the funding freeze unlawful--as courts have repeatedly done in other multistate cases--and block any attempts to withhold or delay this funding.
Attorney General Brown joins the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin in filing the lawsuit. Joining the coalition of attorneys general are the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
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Original text here: https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2025/071425.pdf
D.C. A.G. Schwalb Secures $1.2 Million From Opioid Drug Manufacturers
WASHINGTON, July 15 -- District of Columbia Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Schwalb Secures $1.2 Million from Opioid Drug Manufacturers
In Addition to Monetary Payments, Drug Companies Are Permanently Banned from Promoting or Marketing Opioid Products in the District of Columbia
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Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that eight opioid drug manufacturers will pay the District approximately $1.2 million as part of a nationwide settlement resolving allegations that these companies contributed to and exacerbated the national
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WASHINGTON, July 15 -- District of Columbia Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Schwalb Secures $1.2 Million from Opioid Drug Manufacturers
In Addition to Monetary Payments, Drug Companies Are Permanently Banned from Promoting or Marketing Opioid Products in the District of Columbia
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Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that eight opioid drug manufacturers will pay the District approximately $1.2 million as part of a nationwide settlement resolving allegations that these companies contributed to and exacerbated the nationalopioid crisis. Under the terms of the settlement, seven of the eight defendants--Alvogen, Amneal, Apotex, Hikima, Mylan, Sun, and Zydus--are prohibited from promoting or marketing opioids and opioid products, prohibited from making or selling any product that contains more than 40 mg of oxycodone per pill, and are required to reform their corporate practices. The eighth defendant, Indivior, is prohibited from manufacturing or selling any opioid products for the next 10 years. To date, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has secured nearly $104 million from companies that contributed to the opioid epidemic.
"Tragically, hundreds of DC residents continue to lose their lives every year to opioid overdoses, and far too many members of our community struggle with opioid addiction," said Attorney General Schwalb. "This nationwide, bipartisan settlement holds companies accountable for putting profits over the health and wellbeing of DC residents and requires meaningful changes to their business practices so that this never happens again."
Under the terms of the settlement, the defendants will pay approximately the following amounts to the District to help address the opioid crisis:
* Mylan: $602,600
* Hikma: $188,800
* Amneal: $160,300
* Apotex: $116,900
* Indivior: $71,100
* Sun: $56,900
* Alvogen: $34,300
* Zydus: $27,200
In total, these eight companies will pay $720 million to virtually every state and territory in the United States. In addition to these payments, several of the settlements allow states to receive free pharmaceutical products, or cash in lieu of the products. Additionally, seven of the companies (not including Indivior) are prohibited from promoting or marketing opioids and opioid products, making or selling any product that contains more than 40 mg of oxycodone per pill, providing financial reward to employees based on the volume of opioids sold, or engaging in lobbying related to opioids, and must put in place a monitoring and reporting system for suspicious orders. Indivior has agreed to not manufacture or sell opioid products for the next 10 years, but it will be able to continue marketing and selling medications to treat opioid use disorder.
This matter was handled by Wendy Weinberg, Senior Assistant Attorney General.
Impact of the Opioid Epidemic in DC
Between 2021 and 2024, 1,740 people died from opioid overdoses in the District. This settlement is the latest development in OAG's broad efforts to address the opioid crisis, hold those responsible for it accountable, and secure relief for affected District residents. To date, OAG has secured nearly $104 million for the District via settlements with drug manufacturers, distributors, and others for their roles in creating and profiting from the crisis.
The District's Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission was established in 2022 to make recommendations for how to best use the anticipated $104 million in settlement funds to address the harm caused by the opioid epidemic. After five years of rising annual opioid fatalities in DC, opioid deaths fell in 2024, when there were 344 opioid-related fatal overdoses--down from 516 the previous year. In the first quarter of 2025, there were 61 fatal opioid overdoses, a 33% decrease year-to-date from the prior year.
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Original text here: https://oag.dc.gov/release/attorney-general-schwalb-secures-12-million-opioid
Colo. Department of Health Care Policy & Financing and MedRide Reach Settlement Agreement
DENVER, Colorado, July 15 -- The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing issued the following news release on July 14, 2025:
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Department of Health Care Policy & Financing and MedRide Reach Settlement Agreement
Denver, CO - The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) and MedRide, LLC (MedRide) reached a settlement of litigation (here and here) related to HCPF's termination of MedRide's enrollment as a Non-emergent Medical Transportation (NEMT) provider in the Colorado Medicaid program, Health First Colorado.
Under the terms of the agreement, HCPF rescinded its
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DENVER, Colorado, July 15 -- The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing issued the following news release on July 14, 2025:
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Department of Health Care Policy & Financing and MedRide Reach Settlement Agreement
Denver, CO - The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) and MedRide, LLC (MedRide) reached a settlement of litigation (here and here) related to HCPF's termination of MedRide's enrollment as a Non-emergent Medical Transportation (NEMT) provider in the Colorado Medicaid program, Health First Colorado.
Under the terms of the agreement, HCPF rescinded itstermination of MedRide's provider Medicaid agreement and MedRide continues to provide NEMT services while meeting a number of requirements including, but not limited to:
* Maintaining all required documentation to achieve successful credentialing that verifies driver and vehicle safety and fitness prior to transporting Health First Colorado members
* Creating and administering a driver training program to ensure compliance with the Medicaid NEMT program
* Reenforcing processes to ensure that the customer is eligible for Medicaid coverage and that the trip is eligible for Medicaid NEMT reimbursement
* Employing a compliance officer to ensure MedRide operates in compliance with regulations and guidance intended to protect members
* Contracting with a third-party auditor to screen MedRide's claims to ensure completion and compliance prior to submission for reimbursement
* Limiting the number of rides MedRide can provide to Medicaid members until program compliance is established and maintained
"We are pleased to have reached this agreement so both MedRide and HCPF can focus our time and resources on providing safe, affordable transportation services to eligible Colorado Medicaid members," said Medicaid Director, Adela Flores-Brennan.
The settlement agreement was effective June 10, 2025.
About the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing: The Department administers Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program), Child Health Plan Plus, and other programs for Coloradans who qualify. These health care programs now cover about one in four Coloradans. For more information about the Department, please visit hcpf.colorado.gov.
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Original text here: https://hcpf.colorado.gov/press-release/hcpf-and-medride-reach-settlement-agreement
