# Washington’s Opioid Settlements

*This Community Guide will describe how Washington is spending its opioid settlements, and whether Washington 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>$1.13 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>50% to the state and 50% to local governments</p><p><br><img src="https://2717876270-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fi0Eidke1NF7wKhIiwpF1%2Fuploads%2FhLHI1Q67mbNb7BxPtWpS%2F_OpioidSettlement-DecisionMaking_Washington.png?alt=media&#x26;token=fd7e9f0a-1ea3-4f56-aa02-cfc288634733" alt=""></p></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><h4>Mechanism</h4></td><td align="center"><strong>State-Local Agreements</strong> (<a href="https://agportal-s3bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/Allocation%20Agreement_1.pdf">Allocation Agreement Governing the Allocation of Funds Paid by the Settling Opioid Distributors in Washington State</a> and <a href="https://nationalopioidsettlement.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023.01.27-Washington-Signed-Allocation-Agreement-Funds-Teva-etc.pdf">Washington State Allocation Agreement Governing the Allocation of Funds Paid by Certain Settling Opioid Manufacturers and Pharmacies</a>); <strong>Local Agreement</strong> (<a href="https://nationalopioidsettlement.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/One-Washington-Memorandum-of-Understanding-between-the-Washington-Municipalities.pdf">One Washington Memorandum of Understanding Between Washington Municipalities</a>); <strong>Legislation</strong> (RCW Secs. <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.79.483">43.79.483</a>, <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.79.484">43.79.484</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table data-header-hidden data-full-width="true"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><h4>50% State Share</h4></td><td><h4>50% Local Share</h4></td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Ultimate Decisionmaker</strong></em></td><td><a href="https://leg.wa.gov/"><strong>Washington state legislature</strong></a></td><td><strong>Local officials</strong> for counties, cities, and towns</td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Decision-making Process</strong></em></td><td>The <strong>Washington state legislature appropriates funds</strong> after considering input from the <a href="https://www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/programs-and-initiatives/behavioral-health-and-recovery/state-opioid-and-overdose-response-soor-plan">State Opioid and Overdose Response Plan</a> (SOORP) <a href="https://www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/programs-and-initiatives/behavioral-health-and-recovery/state-opioid-and-overdose-response-soor-plan#opioid-response-workgroup">workgroup</a>, SOORP executive sponsors, and the Governor’s office.</td><td><strong>Localities decide autonomously</strong> but are subject to oversight by Regional Opioid Abatement Councils.</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>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> (not required, but public input accepted at <a href="https://www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/programs-and-initiatives/behavioral-health-and-recovery/state-opioid-and-overdose-response-soor-plan">State Opioid and Overdose Response Plan</a> (SOORP) community meetings and via SOORP workgroup leads)</td><td><strong>Yes</strong> (local governments are required to solicit public input on settlement expenditures)</td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Advisory Body</strong></em></td><td><strong>No</strong> (not required)</td><td><p><strong>Yes</strong> (required, regional only)</p><p>Regional Opioid Abatement Councils (OACs) are not required to include member(s) with lived and/or living experience.</p></td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Expenditures</strong></em></td><td><strong>Neither public nor intrastate reporting required</strong>, <em>but see</em> the Attorney General’s Opioid Settlement Abatement Account reports (<em>e.g.</em>, <a href="https://agportal-s3bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/uploadedfiles/Another/News/Press_Releases/2023-Opioids-Account.pdf">2023-2025 Biennium</a>).</td><td><strong>Public reporting required</strong> (each regional opioid abatement council to individually publish)</td></tr><tr><td><em><strong>Updates</strong></em></td><td>For updates on the state share, visit the Department of Health’s <a href="https://waportal.org/partners/washington-state-opioid-settlements">Washington State Opioid Settlements</a> website and refer to the State Opioid and Overdose Response Plan’s <a href="https://www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/programs-and-initiatives/behavioral-health-and-recovery/state-opioid-and-overdose-response-soor-plan">website</a> for meetings updates. Sign up to receive email updates and reminders from the state opioid response workgroup <a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAHCA/subscriber/new">here</a>.</td><td>To find updates on the local share, a good starting point is to check the websites for your regional opioid abatement council (<em>e.g.</em>, <a href="https://www.gcbhllc.org/opioid-abatement-council.html">Greater Columbia Region</a>, <a href="https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/health-safety/safety-injury-prevention/overdose-prevention-response/opioid-settlement">King County</a>, <a href="https://www.spokanecounty.org/5488/Spokane-County-Opioid-Abatement-Council-">Spokane County</a>); city or county council (<em>e.g.</em>, <a href="https://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/3057/Opioid-Settlement-Funds">Cowlitz County</a>, <a href="https://www.piercecountywa.gov/8197/Opioid-Abatement-Council">Pierce County</a>, <a href="https://cityofpa.us/1300/Opioid-Settlement-Funds">Port Angeles</a>); or local health department.</td></tr></tbody></table>
