The Alabama House of Representatives has unanimously passed House Bill 487, advancing the Alabama opioid settlement spending plan that would allocate more than $43 million from the state’s Opioid Treatment and Abatement Fund for fiscal year 2026.
The legislation, sponsored by State Rep. Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville), distributes $43,138,650 in opioid settlement funds across prevention, treatment, recovery, mental health, and law enforcement initiatives statewide. The bill passed the House on Feb. 26 with a 102-0 vote and now awaits consideration in the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee.
If enacted, the measure would take effect June 1, 2026.
The largest portion of the funding — $26.36 million — would go to the Alabama Department of Mental Health for a range of prevention, treatment and recovery purposes including grants, crisis line support, civil commitment beds and purchase of naloxone.
How the rest of the $43 million would be divided:
- Prevention, treatment, and recovery grants – $8.93 million
- 988 Crisis Line – $4 million
- Civil commitment beds – $7.5 million
- State match for federal Medicaid funding – $2 million
- Residential detox treatment – $1 million
- Purchase of naloxone – $1 million
- Continuation of statewide marketing campaign – $1.3 million
- Adolescent substance abuse treatment – $500,000
- Medical education through the Alabama Society of Addiction Medicine – $130,000
There would also be several other allocations for different departments and agencies for the bill including:
- Administrative Office of Courts (Specialty Courts): $3 million
- District Attorneys (equally divided statewide): $2.1 million
- Child Advocacy Centers: $2.136 million
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (Psychiatry Residency Program): $2 million
- Auburn University (Harrison College of Pharmacy K-12 prevention program): $1.9 million
- Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles: $1.5 million
- Alabama Department of Corrections: $1 million
- USA Health (University of South Alabama): $1.1 million
- Office of Prosecution Services: $1.092 million
- Alabama Department of Senior Services: $500,000
- Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences: $450,000
In a previous Yellowhammer News report, legislative leaders cited a 30% year-over-year reduction in drug overdoses statewide, praising the Oversight Commission on Alabama Opioid Settlement Funds for directing settlement dollars toward prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.
With House passage secured unanimously, House Bill 487 now moves to the Alabama Senate for committee consideration. If approved by the Senate and signed into law, the Alabama opioid settlement spending plan would continue the state’s multi-year strategy to address opioid misuse, expand treatment access, and strengthen recovery services across Alabama.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
