# Rhode Island’s Opioid Settlements

*This Community Guide will describe how Rhode Island is spending its opioid settlements and whether Rhode Island is working to ensure community access to opioid settlement funds. Last revised September 1, 2024.*

<table data-view="cards" data-full-width="true"><thead><tr><th align="center"></th><th align="center"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td align="center"><h4>Total Funds</h4></td><td align="center"><p><strong>$304.41 million</strong>[1]</p><hr><p>[1] Total is rounded. <em>See</em> <a href="https://www.opioidsettlementtracker.com/globalsettlementtracker">The Official Opioid Settlement Tracker Tally</a>. Accessed September 1, 2024.</p></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><h4>Allocation</h4></td><td align="center"><p>80% to the state and 20% to local governments</p><p><br><img src="https://344242708-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F7R44TjKKCaNf5H48hoDj%2Fuploads%2FyzI2owivc3SoUx7k0PUs%2F_OpioidSettlement-DecisionMaking_Rhode%20Island.png?alt=media&#x26;token=cdcf5b0d-5793-49df-ab5f-acd3286f73e3" alt=""></p></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><h4>Mechanism</h4></td><td align="center"><strong>State-Local Agreement</strong> (<a href="https://nationalopioidsettlement.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/R.I.-MOU-Between-State-and-Cities-and-Towns-Receiving-Opioid-Settlement-Funds_All-Signature-Pages.pdf">Rhode Island Memorandum of Understanding Between the State and Cities and Towns Receiving Opioid Settlement Funds</a>); <strong>Legislation</strong> (<a href="http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/statutes/title42/42-7.2/42-7.2-10.htm">R.I. Gen. Laws Sec. 42-7.2-10(d)</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table data-header-hidden data-full-width="true"><thead><tr><th width="188"></th><th></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td><h4>80% Statewide Abatement Share</h4></td><td><h4>20% City and Town Share</h4></td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Ultimate Decisionmaker</strong></em></td><td><a href="https://www.rilegislature.gov/Pages/Default.aspx"><strong>Rhode Island General Assembly</strong></a></td><td><strong>Local officials</strong> for cities and towns</td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Decision-making Process</strong></em></td><td><p><strong>Expenditures are legislatively appropriated following a multi-step process</strong>:</p><ul><li>Recommendations are made by the <a href="https://eohhs.ri.gov/Opioid-Settlement-Advisory-Committee">Rhode Island Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee</a></li><li>The <a href="https://eohhs.ri.gov/about-eohhs/secretary-eohhs">Secretary</a> of the <a href="https://eohhs.ri.gov/">Executive Office of Health and Human Services</a> (EOHHS) selects which are incorporated into a budget presented to the governor</li><li>The governor selects recommendations for inclusion into a budget presented to the Rhode Island General Assembly</li></ul></td><td><strong>Localities decide autonomously</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Supplantation</strong></em></td><td><strong>Not prohibited</strong></td><td><strong>Not prohibited</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Grant Funding</strong></em></td><td><strong>Yes</strong>. For live opportunities, <em>see</em> Opioid Settlement Tracker’s <a href="https://www.opioidsettlementtracker.com/communitygranttracker/#notables">Community Grant Tracker</a>.</td><td><strong>Up to each locality</strong> (availability and processes will vary)</td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Public Input</strong></em></td><td><strong>Yes</strong> (<a href="https://eohhs.ri.gov/Opioid-Settlement-Advisory-Committee">Rhode Island Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee</a> is required to establish a process for receiving community input and includes a public comment period at its meetings)</td><td><strong>Up to each locality</strong> (not required)</td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Advisory Body</strong></em></td><td><p><strong>Yes</strong> (required). <em>See</em> the <a href="https://eohhs.ri.gov/Opioid-Settlement-Advisory-Committee">Rhode Island Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee</a>.</p><p>The Advisory Committee is not required to include member(s) with lived and/or living experience.</p></td><td><strong>Up to each locality</strong> (not required)</td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Expenditures</strong></em></td><td><strong>No public reporting required</strong> (only intrastate), <em>but see</em> annual reports (<em>e.g.</em>, <a href="https://eohhs.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur226/files/2024-01/Opioid%20Settlement%20Annual%20Report%20-%20December%202023%20to%20Post.pdf">2023</a> and <a href="https://eohhs.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur226/files/2024-01/EOHHS%20-%20Opioid%20Settlement%20Annual%20Report%20-%201.3.23.pdf">2022</a>) and funded project overviews (<em>e.g.</em>, <a href="https://eohhs.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur226/files/2023-10/Opioid%20Settlement%20Overview%20-%20as%20of%2010.23.2023.pdf">October 2023</a>) on the Advisory Committee’s <a href="https://eohhs.ri.gov/Opioid-Settlement-Advisory-Committee">website</a>.</td><td><strong>Neither public nor intrastate reporting required</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Updates</strong></em></td><td>For updates on the Statewide Abatement share, visit the Rhode Island Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee’s <a href="https://eohhs.ri.gov/Opioid-Settlement-Advisory-Committee">website</a> and Prevent Overdose, RI’s (PORI) <a href="https://preventoverdoseri.org/opioid-settlement/?src=bnr">Opioid Settlement</a> page.</td><td>To find updates on the local share, a good starting point is to check the websites for your city/town council or local health department.</td></tr></tbody></table>