This information was compiled based on information from publicly available legislation, state memorandums or executive orders, state websites, and press releases, as well as supplemental interviews with state officials with a role in administering opioid settlement funding.
It offers a snapshot of settlement spending and priorities at the state level (e.g., funding administered by state agencies or designated statewide abatement funds) as well as laws, agreements, and processes that the state has established for allocating funds. NASHP does not track spending at the local or county level, but includes any relevant state-level reports or dashboards that capture local spending within a state. For details on the definitions used here, check out the definitions at the bottom of this page. You can also get an overview of opioid settlement decisions in all states.
Settlement Spending Status
Background
Minnesota’s Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council (OERAC), responsible for making recommendations to the commissioner of human services on expenditures from the state abatement fund, helps to develop requests for proposals for potential grantees that reflect state spending priorities. Grantees receiving settlement funding or other opioid-related funding are featured on the Office of Management and Budget’s Opioid Epidemic Response Spending Dashboard, and OERAC also publishes yearly lists of grant recipients and their proposed projects.
Has the state awarded settlement funds?
Yes. The Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council grantees for fiscal year 2024 feature organizations funded from the Opiate Epidemic Response Fund, which includes state settlement funding among other funding sources. Grant initiatives are categorized by urban, rural, and statewide target areas, with some example projects including workforce development programs and expanding connections to care and substance use resource offerings.
Has the state announced priorities or recommendations for spending?
Yes. According to Sec. 256.042 MN Statutes, OERAC should focus on four priority areas to address the opioid crisis in Minnesota: prevention and education, training on the treatment of addiction, expansion and enhancement of the continuum of care for opioid-related substance use disorders, the development of measure to assess and protect those with needs for prescription pain medication to maintain their access.
Previous spending details
Not applicable.
Statewide reporting of local spending
The Opioid Epidemic Response Spending Dashboard features information on settlement funds expended by cities and counties. Awards can be broken down into their dollar amounts, as well as what abatement strategies they fund (e.g., primary or secondary prevention, workforce development, and treatment).
State Settlement Website or Dashboard
Spending Plans and Agreements
Process for Settlement Disbursement
Legislation appropriates the entirety of the state share of the funding to the commissioner of human services and creates an Opiate Epidemic Response Advisory Council, authorized to make formal proposals to the commissioner regarding grant awards from the account. The commissioner must annually share a report of these proposals with the legislative committees that have jurisdiction over health and human services policy and finance.
State and Political Subdivision Split
Structure
Locally Controlled (>50 percent of funding controlled by cities and/or counties)
Allocation Formula
25 percent State Abatement Fund, 75 percent participating local government abatement funds
Role of Advisory Committee
The Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council makes funding recommendations to the commissioner of human services.
State Annual Report
Not applicable.
