House File 1038 establishes the Opioid Settlement Fund in Iowa, which is designed to manage and allocate funds received from national settlements related to the opioid crisis. The bill outlines the creation of the fund, stipulating that it will be separate from the state's general fund and detailing how the funds will be appropriated. Specifically, it allocates 75% of the state portion of the settlement funds to the Department of Health and Human Services and 25% to the Office of the Attorney General for initiatives aimed at combating the opioid crisis. The bill also includes provisions for the non-reversion of unencumbered funds and the appropriation of interest earned on the fund.

Additionally, the bill specifies various disbursements from the fund for the fiscal year 2024-2025, totaling $29 million, to support a range of programs and organizations focused on opioid addiction treatment and recovery. These include funding for youth-serving nonprofits, opioid treatment programs, recovery housing, and community mental health centers, among others. The bill mandates that recipients of the funds must comply with national opioid settlement agreements and report on the effectiveness of the funded services. The act is effective immediately upon enactment and applies retroactively to July 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 12.51
Reprinted: 12.51
Enrolled: 12.51