Attorney General Tim Griffin announced on Apr. 24 that Arkansas has received $44,414,444.95 as its annual proceeds from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). The funds are distributed by the State Treasurer’s Office and support health programs across the state.
The annual tobacco settlement is important because it provides significant funding for initiatives aimed at improving public health in Arkansas. “With this year’s disbursement, Arkansas has now received a total of more than $1.47 billion,” Griffin said in his statement.
According to Griffin, the MSA funds help finance programs such as the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Medicaid Expansion Program, Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program, and Targeted State Needs Program. These efforts focus on medical research, Medicaid coverage for underserved populations, reducing tobacco use, and supporting public health initiatives for minorities and rural residents.
Griffin also said his office enforces the MSA terms along with related state statutes. This includes operating a certification process for tobacco manufacturers and maintaining an Approved-For-Sale Directory for cigarettes. The office manages quarterly and annual reporting requirements and conducts audits or investigations if violations occur.
The Attorney General’s office serves all of Arkansas with legal services including consumer protection, civil and criminal matters, fraud reporting resources, legal opinions, community education programs, public integrity efforts and community relations initiatives according to the official website. It operates in the legal and public safety sector at a statewide level.
Griffin was sworn in as Attorney General on January 10, 2023. He previously served as Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas from 2015 to 2023 and represented Arkansas’s Second Congressional District from 2011 to 2015 according to the official website.
