JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann (R-Miss.) announced his appointments to the Mississippi Opioid Settlement Advisory Council.

The council will be tasked with guiding the allocation of opioid settlement funds to address substance abuse and its impacts across the state.

Hosemann named Mark Stovall and Andy Taggart as his two voting-member appointees, and Senator Nicole Boyd and Senator Angela Turner Ford as his two Senator appointments.

“These appointments bring professional expertise and deep personal commitment to combating the opioid crisis that has devastated too many Mississippians,” Hosemann said. “Their guidance will help ensure the Mississippi legislature uses these funds wisely to save lives, support families, and prevent future opioid misuse.”

The Opioid Settlement Advisory Council was created during the Mississippi Legislature’s 2025 regular session through the passage of Senate Bill 2767, authored by Senator Nicole Boyd, to provide recommendations on the disbursement of funds recovered by the state through various legal actions against opioid manufacturers and distributors. These funds are intended to support prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction efforts statewide.