This bill mandates the Department of Education and Early Development to create an opioid abuse awareness and prevention curriculum for students in grades six through twelve. The curriculum will include at least 60 minutes of annual instruction covering the dangers of opioid use, awareness of opioids targeting children, the science behind opioid use, prevention strategies, and early warning signs of addiction. The Department is required to consult with various stakeholders, including the Department of Health and families affected by opioid overdoses, in developing this curriculum. Each school district must implement this curriculum, ideally during the last week of October.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that within six months of its enactment, the Department of Health must propose a plan to allocate funds received from the national opioid settlement to support the development of the curriculum outlined in the new section of law. This allocation aims to ensure that the necessary resources are available for effective education on opioid abuse and prevention in schools.

Statutes affected:
SB0228A, AM SB 228, introduced 01/28/2026:
SB0228B, AM CSSB 228(EDC), introduced 04/27/2026: 47.37.270, 17.20.085, 14.30.350