The bill establishes an opioid settlement fund and creates an opioid reserve account under the control of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address the opioid crisis in Iowa. It appropriates $9.1 million annually for three fiscal years (FY 2025-2026, FY 2026-2027, and FY 2027-2028) to be distributed to administrative services organizations (ASOs) for crisis response, early intervention, treatment, and recovery efforts related to opioid addiction. ASOs must submit proposals to an evaluation panel, which includes the attorney general and other key officials, to receive funding. Additionally, $3.9 million is allocated each year for statewide prevention initiatives and for HHS to evaluate funded programs, ensuring measurable outcomes.

The bill also mandates HHS to report to the General Assembly by September 1 each year on recommendations for future fund disbursements and evaluations of the previous fiscal year's programs. Furthermore, it creates an opioid reserve account to support efforts to increase the capacity for opioid-related services, allowing ASOs to apply for funds to enhance the number of behavioral health providers in their districts. The bill appropriates $20 million from the opioid settlement fund for the fiscal year 2025-2026 to be deposited into this account.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 12.51