LITTLE ROCK – After the State of Arkansas received $49,593,803.13 as the 2024 share of proceeds from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) with tobacco companies, Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement:
“My office is tasked with enforcing the MSA and various tobacco statutes enacted pursuant to the MSA. The annual disbursement of settlement funds supports key programs in Arkansas that improve health outcomes. With this year’s disbursement, Arkansas has received a total of $1.38 billion.”
Background
In 2000, Arkansas voters created the Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act, which governs how the MSA funds are used. Tobacco settlement moneys fund numerous health-related programs in Arkansas, including the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, an agricultural and medical research consortium; the Medicaid Expansion Program, which provides Medicaid coverage for underserved populations; the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program, which aims to reduce tobacco use; and the Targeted State Needs Program, which includes support for public health programs for minorities, older Arkansans, and residents of rural areas and the Delta.
In addition to enforcing the terms of the MSA, the Office of Attorney General’s enforcement of tobacco statutes includes operation of a certification process for tobacco manufacturers; ongoing quarterly and annual reporting; maintaining an Approved-For-Sale Directory for cigarettes; and conducting audits, investigations, or litigation should violations of the tobacco statutes occur.
