NC H996

Adds Article 7 to Chapter 122C of North Carolina General Statutes to establish a legislative release protecting national opioid settlement proceeds for the State and its units of local government.

Prohibits the State and any unit of local government from asserting any "Released Claims" against "Released Entities" as defined in the Opioid Consent Judgments, including Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen Corporation.

North Carolina's share of the national settlement is approximately $750,000,000 over 18 years, with the state and more than 140 local government units able to receive full payment only if opioid litigation asserting released claims against released entities ends with no new claims.

Applies retroactively to all released claims whether originally asserted before or after the act's effective date.

Preserves all remedies available to the State or units of local government under the Opioid Consent Judgments.