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.
Ultimate Decisionmaker
Local officials for counties, cities, and towns
Decision-making Process
The Washington state legislature appropriates funds after considering input from the State Opioid and Overdose Response Plan (SOORP) workgroup, SOORP executive sponsors, and the Governor’s office.
Localities decide autonomously but are subject to oversight by Regional Opioid Abatement Councils.
Supplantation
Not prohibited
Not prohibited
Grant Funding
No
Up to each locality (availability and processes will vary)
Public Input
Yes (not required, but public input accepted at State Opioid and Overdose Response Plan (SOORP) community meetings and via SOORP workgroup leads)
Yes (local governments are required to solicit public input on settlement expenditures)
Advisory Body
No (not required)
Yes (required, regional only)
Regional Opioid Abatement Councils (OACs) are not required to include member(s) with lived and/or living experience.
Expenditures
Neither public nor intrastate reporting required, but see the Attorney General’s Opioid Settlement Abatement Account reports (e.g., 2023-2025 Biennium).
Public reporting required (each regional opioid abatement council to individually publish)
Updates
For updates on the state share, visit the Department of Health’s Washington State Opioid Settlements website and refer to the State Opioid and Overdose Response Plan’s website for meetings updates. Sign up to receive email updates and reminders from the state opioid response workgroup here.
To find updates on the local share, a good starting point is to check the websites for your regional opioid abatement council (e.g., Greater Columbia Region, King County, Spokane County); city or county council (e.g., Cowlitz County, Pierce County, Port Angeles); or local health department.
$1.13 billion[1]
[1] Total is rounded. See The Official Opioid Settlement Tracker Tally. Accessed September 1, 2024.
50% to the state and 50% to local governments
State-Local Agreements (Allocation Agreement Governing the Allocation of Funds Paid by the Settling Opioid Distributors in Washington State and Washington State Allocation Agreement Governing the Allocation of Funds Paid by Certain Settling Opioid Manufacturers and Pharmacies); Local Agreement (One Washington Memorandum of Understanding Between Washington Municipalities); Legislation (RCW Secs. 43.79.483, 43.79.484)