Nebraska’s Opioid Settlements
This Community Guide will describe how Nebraska is spending its opioid settlements, and whether Nebraska is working to ensure community access to opioid settlement funds. Last revised September 1, 2024.
$181.15 million[1]
[1] Total is rounded. See The Official Opioid Settlement Tracker Tally. Accessed September 1, 2024.
Legislation (Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. Secs. 71-2485 to 71-2495; Secs. 81-5,153 and 81-3119); Bylaws (Bylaws of the Opioid Settlement Remediation Advisory Committee)
Ultimate Decisionmaker
Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) and regions decide majority
Local officials for counties and municipalities
Decision-making Process
Most is disbursed by the legislature to the Opioid Treatment Infrastructure Cash Fund managed by DHHS’ Division of Behavioral Health (DBH). The Opioid Settlement Remediation Advisory Committee is responsible for advising the DBH.
State law also requires the Treasurer to annually transfer amounts from this share to other cash funds assigned to various other decisionmakers, including the Opioid Prevention and Treatment Cash Fund for spending by the state’s health regions.
Localities decide autonomously
Supplantation
Not prohibited
Not prohibited
Grant Funding
No
Up to each locality (availability and processes will vary)
Public Input
Yes (public comment required at Opioid Settlement Remediation Advisory Committee and Regional Behavioral Health Authority meetings)
Generally, yes (public comment required at public meetings)
Advisory Body
Yes (not required). See the Nebraska Opioid Settlement Remediation Advisory Committee*
The Committee’s bylaws require it to include member(s) with lived and/or living experience.
*Pending impact of 2024 LB 1355.
Up to each locality (not required)
Expenditures
No public reporting required (only intrastate)
See limited details on expenditures in reports submitted by DHHS Division of Behavioral Health to the Governor, Attorney General, and legislature (e.g., December 2023 report).
Neither public nor intrastate reporting required
Updates
For updates on the Opioid Recovery Trust Fund share, visit the Nebraska Opioid Settlement Remediation Advisory Committee’s website, which includes information about upcoming meetings, past meetings, funding updates, and other resources. See also individual regions’ opioid settlement-related websites, e.g., Region 3.
To find updates on the local share, a good starting point is to check the websites for your county board of commissioners, city council, or local health department.
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