# Tennessee’s Opioid Settlements

*This Community Guide will describe how Tennessee is spending its opioid settlements, and whether Tennessee 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>$1.12 billion</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>70% to the Opioid Abatement Fund, 15% to the state, and 15% to local governments</p><p><img src="/files/5cf0Hxa7yuDrWRAMJeFG" alt=""></p></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><h4>Mechanism</h4></td><td align="center"><strong>State-Local Agreements</strong> (<a href="https://nationalopioidsettlement.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Tennessee-State-Subdivision-Opioid-Abatement-Agreement.pdf">Tennessee State-Subdivision Opioid Abatement Agreement</a> and <a href="https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/attorneygeneral/documents/foi/opioids-settlements/amendments-summary-2023.pdf">2023 Amendments</a>); <strong>Legislation</strong> (Tenn. Code Ann. <a href="https://casetext.com/statute/tennessee-code/title-9-public-finances/chapter-4-state-funds-state-budget-and-appropriations/part-13-opioid-abatement-fund">Secs. 9-4-1301 through 1305</a> and <a href="https://casetext.com/statute/tennessee-code/title-33-mental-health-and-substance-abuse-and-intellectual-and-developmental-disabilities/chapter-11-opioid-abatement-council-act">Secs. 33-11-101 through 1106</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table data-header-hidden data-full-width="true"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><h4>70% Opioid Abatement Fund Share</h4></td><td><h4>15% State Share</h4></td><td><h4>15% Local Share</h4></td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Ultimate Decisionmaker</strong></em></td><td><a href="https://www.tn.gov/oac.html"><strong>Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council</strong></a> <em>(for 65% of this share, or 45.5% of TN’s total funds)</em> and <strong>county officials</strong> <em>(for 35% of this share, or 24.5% of TN’s total funds)</em></td><td><a href="https://www.capitol.tn.gov/"><strong>Tennessee General Assembly</strong></a></td><td><strong>Local officials</strong> for counties and municipalities</td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Decision-making Process</strong></em></td><td><p><strong>The Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council decides expenditures for the 65% “Community Funding” portion of this share</strong> after considering the <a href="https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health.html">Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services</a>’ needs assessment and allowing public comment from other stakeholders (<em>e.g.</em>, community, service providers, and public health advocates). </p><p><strong>County officials decide expenditures for their 35% “County” portion of this share</strong> consistent with Council-approved programs.</p></td><td><strong>Tennessee General Assembly decides</strong></td><td><strong>Localities decide autonomously</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Supplantation</strong></em></td><td><strong>Partially prohibited</strong> (“Community Funding” portion only)</td><td><strong>Not prohibited</strong></td><td><strong>Not prohibited</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Grant Funding</strong></em></td><td><p><strong>Yes.</strong> <em>See</em> <a href="https://www.tn.gov/oac/community.html">Community Funding</a> (opportunities funded by Council-controlled 65% portion only).</p><p>Grantmaking from the 35% “<a href="https://www.tn.gov/oac/county.html">County Funding</a>” portion is up to each county (availability and processes will vary).</p></td><td><strong>No</strong></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> (required).</td><td><strong>No opportunities available</strong> (not required)</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://www.tn.gov/oac/about-us/council-members.html">Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council</a>.</p><p>The Abatement Council is not required to include member(s) with lived and/or living experience.</p></td><td><strong>No</strong> (not required)</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 (only intrastate)</strong>, <em>but see</em> the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council’s <a href="https://www.tn.gov/oac/reports.html">annual reports</a>, <a href="https://www.tn.gov/oac/community.html">Community Funding</a> page, and <a href="https://www.tn.gov/oac/county.html">County Funding</a> page.</td><td><strong>Neither public nor intrastate reporting required</strong></td><td><strong>Neither public nor intrastate reporting required</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Updates</strong></em></td><td><p>For updates on the Opioid Abatement Fund share, visit the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council’s <a href="https://www.tn.gov/oac.html">website</a> and <a href="https://www.tn.gov/oac/contact-us.html">sign-up</a> for its mailing list. The Council’s <a href="https://www.tn.gov/oac/reports.html">Reports and Resources</a> page links to the state’s annual report and a <a href="https://www.tn.gov/oac/county.html">County Funding</a> page that includes information about counties’ annual payments and semiannual reports of their Opioid Abatement Fund uses.</p><p> </p></td><td>A single resource containing updates specific to the state share updates could not be found. <em>See</em> the Attorney General’s general <a href="https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/working-for-tennessee/filings-of-interest/opioids.html">Opioid Settlements</a> webpage.</td><td>To find updates on the local share, a good starting point is to check the websites for your board of county commissioners, city council, or local health department. (<em>See</em>, <em>e.g.</em>, <a href="https://campbellcountytn.gov/opioid-settlement/">Campbell County</a>, <a href="https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/oac/documents/OAC_Annual_Report_FY23.pdf#page=10">Cannon County</a>, <a href="https://www.cockecountytn.gov/opoid-settlement">Cocke County</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=tennessee+and+madison+county+and+opioid+settlement&#x26;oq=tennessee+and+madison+county+and+opioid+settlement&#x26;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigAdIBCTEzODY1ajBqN6gCALACAA&#x26;sourceid=chrome&#x26;ie=UTF-8">Madison County</a>).</td></tr></tbody></table>


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