House File 981 seeks $500,000 annually for youth opioid-prevention program Change the Outcome

Representative Andrew Bierman introduced House File 981, a funding proposal that would appropriate $500,000 annually to Change the Outcome, a nonprofit that delivers school-based prevention education on opioids and other substances to middle and high school students.

Why it matters: Change the Outcome’s representatives told the committee the organization has delivered programs to more than 110,000 students since 2017 and is currently booked through the school year; staff and young-adult presenters said the program increases student knowledge and confidence about overdoses, Narcan, and related risks based on pre/post surveys.

Testimony summary: Colleen Ronny, listed as founder and executive director, described her organization’s origins after a family overdose death and outlined program growth from 8 schools in the first year to more than 100 schools statewide. Program director Megan Wagner described the curriculum: a locally produced documentary shown in classrooms followed by lived-experience testimony and evidence-based information. Wagner said pre/post data show student understanding increases by 40–60 percent on covered topics and that 95 percent of students report feeling more informed after the program.

Sydney Hassett, outreach coordinator and a program facilitator who presents lived experience in classrooms, described student reactions and supplied in-class survey quotations about students advocating for peers and for safer medical choices. The presenters said the program currently operates with eight full-time staff and an annual budget of about $650,000, covering travel, staff salaries, and program delivery. They said they are at or near capacity and would need to expand staff to meet demand.

Funding questions and committee discussion: Members asked why the sponsor requested general fund dollars instead of using existing opioid-settlement, ORAC (Opioid Response Advisory Council) or county funds. The sponsor and the nonprofit testified they had pursued county and grant funding but found county funding inconsistent and often administratively burdensome for an organization of their size. The sponsor said ORAC funding exists but was competitive and limited; the organization had received prior ORAC grant support that recently declined despite increased service demand. Members emphasized the need for state-level coordination and suggested clearer measures for expected outcomes if state funding is provided.

Action: The chair laid House File 981 over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill or future consideration. No appropriation was made during the hearing; committee members asked for budget details and noted coordination with county and state opioid-response efforts would be important in subsequent review.

Next steps: Sponsor and organization will provide additional budget details; members indicated interest in clarifying performance metrics and whether alternate funding sources (ORAC, settlement funds, county allocations) are appropriate before committing general fund dollars.