Opioid Litigation

Utah will receive an estimated total of $495 million (this amount subject to change) over 18 years. The state and counties agreed to a 50/50 split of Utah’s settlement funds between the state and participating counties. Each county’s share is based on a formula that takes the impact of opioids on the county into account.

You can read more about the spending plans and agreements in the One Utah Opioid Settlement Memorandum of Understanding opens in a new tab.

• Utah has passed legislation that outlines basic funding routing mechanisms, with funding decisions at the state level being made by the legislative appropriation process. The funds are allocated through the Social Services Appropriations Committee with guidance through the Opioid Task Force and the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee. Although the Advisory Committee does not have the official authority to spend or award the money, they have created a "blueprint" to guide state and local leaders on the best ways to use the funds which can be found on the homepage of their website.

• Ultimately the Legislature's Executive Appropriation Committee determines which projects that are presented will be awarded funds.

In the 2023 General Session, the UT Legislature designated the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health (SUMH) within the Utah Department of Health and Human Services as the reporting entity for the projects determined by the legislature. The legislation that outlines the reporting requirements for the legislatively chosen projects can be found on the Utah State Legislature's webpage in S.B. 155 Litigation Proceed Fund Amendments. Legislation requires that the state settlement dollars be placed in a restricted fund and disbursed only through legislative appropriation.

Additionally, spending progress for litigation funded projects can be found on the Utah State Legislature's Funding Item Follow Up Report. Opioid litigation projects can be found by clicking the "Funded Projects" button followed by the "Opioid Settlement Projects" button.