From 1.21.4, assets/(modid)/items is required. But, a mod that automatically loads assets/(modid)/models/item/ as minecraft:model as before, even if assets/(modid)/items/ does not exist.
legacyitemmodels-1.0.2.261.jar
MC Client, Fabric, Server, 26.1, 26.1.1, 26.1.2, 26.2
