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.
Ultimate Decisionmaker
Local officials for cities and towns
Decision-making Process
Expenditures are legislatively appropriated following a multi-step process:
Recommendations are made by the
The of the (EOHHS) selects which are incorporated into a budget presented to the governor
The governor selects recommendations for inclusion into a budget presented to the Rhode Island General Assembly
Localities decide autonomously
Supplantation
Not prohibited
Not prohibited
Grant Funding
Yes. For live opportunities, see Opioid Settlement Tracker’s Community Grant Tracker.
Up to each locality (availability and processes will vary)
Public Input
Yes (Rhode Island Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee is required to establish a process for receiving community input and includes a public comment period at its meetings)
Up to each locality (not required)
Advisory Body
Yes (required). See the Rhode Island Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee.
The Advisory Committee is not required to include member(s) with lived and/or living experience.
Up to each locality (not required)
Expenditures
No public reporting required (only intrastate), but see annual reports (e.g., 2023 and 2022) and funded project overviews (e.g., October 2023) on the Advisory Committee’s website.
Neither public nor intrastate reporting required
Updates
For updates on the Statewide Abatement share, visit the Rhode Island Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee’s website and Prevent Overdose, RI’s (PORI) Opioid Settlement page.
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.
$304.41 million[1]
[1] Total is rounded. See The Official Opioid Settlement Tracker Tally. Accessed September 1, 2024.
80% to the state and 20% to local governments
State-Local Agreement (Rhode Island Memorandum of Understanding Between the State and Cities and Towns Receiving Opioid Settlement Funds); Legislation (R.I. Gen. Laws Sec. 42-7.2-10(d))