# Alabama SB252: Pharmacy Benefits Managers; providing a prescription reimbursement rate for independent pharmacies and regulating other practices Alabama SB252, Pharmacy Benefits Managers; providing a prescription reimbursement rate for independent pharmacies and regulating other practices, is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by William M. Beasley (Democratic); status enacted, last action 2025-04-15 (Enacted); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-16). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB252-2025rs - As of: 2026-10-16 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Alabama SB252 - State: Alabama - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Pharmacy Benefits Managers; providing a prescription reimbursement rate for independent pharmacies and regulating other practices - Status: enacted - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-03-18 - Last action: 2025-04-15, Enacted - Sponsor: William M. Beasley (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 28 - Subjects: Insurance - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 11 (586 yes, 49 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 8 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Prescription payment caps and clearer prices: benefit, medium. For covered prescriptions, pharmacy benefit managers cannot require payments above the lower of your plan’s cost share or cash price. Pharmacists can tell you about drug costs, pharmacy payments, and alternative drugs without being blocked or punished. The law sets no fixed dollar cap or guaranteed… - Minimum payments protect independent pharmacies: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2025, independent pharmacies receive at least the Alabama Medicaid reimbursement rate set on the law’s enactment date. Pharmacy benefit managers cannot reduce that payment through fees or adjustments, or shift dispensing costs to patients through higher cost sharing. They canno… - Stronger protections for your pharmacy choice: benefit, low. Pharmacy benefit managers cannot force mail-order or affiliated pharmacy use, block qualifying in-network choices, or use financial rewards or penalties to steer patients. They cannot use claims data to market those pharmacies, except as needed to run the plan. These restrictions have an exception… - Fairer network access for local pharmacies: benefit, low. Pharmacy benefit managers cannot deny network entry to pharmacies or pharmacists that accept and meet contract terms. Qualifying independent pharmacies keep their minimum-payment protection despite conflicting contract terms. Credentialing cannot exceed state licensing standards, though managers ma… - Health plans receive rebates and pricing reports: benefit, low. Pharmacy benefit managers and affiliates must pass 100% of manufacturer rebates they receive, directly or indirectly, to health-plan clients. Clients can instead direct rebates to patients’ purchases at checkout or allow part to cover administrative fees. Managers cannot charge plans more than they… - Pharmacies can refuse below-cost prescriptions: mixed, low. Pharmacies can refuse to fill a prescription or send patients elsewhere when payment falls below their dispensing cost. Pharmacy benefit managers cannot punish that choice through contract cancellation, nonrenewal, penalties, or breach-of-contract lawsuits. Managers also cannot threaten or retaliat… - Pharmacy complaints get enforcement and fees: mixed, low. Alabama’s Insurance Commissioner must enforce the law, adopt rules, and impose civil penalties of at least $1,000 per violation. The Commissioner may audit pharmacy benefit managers, including annually, hire outside examiners, and recover examination costs from managers. Pharmacies and pharmacists… - Broader pharmacy oversight, but employer-plan exclusions: mixed, low. The law extends oversight to certain ownership-linked affiliates, prescription discount-program administrators, and nonprofit agricultural organizations offering health plans. It also defines independent pharmacies, rebates, spread pricing, and patient steering. The specified chapter rules exclude… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: William M. Beasley (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Andrew Jones (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Bobby D. Singleton (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Chris Elliott (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Clyde Chambliss (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Dan Roberts (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: David Sessions (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Donnie Chesteen (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Garlan Gudger (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Gerald H. Allen (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Jack W. Williams (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Jay Hovey (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Josh Carnley (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Keith Kelley (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Kirk Hatcher (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Lance Bell (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Larry Stutts (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Linda Coleman-Madison (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Merika Coleman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Randy Price (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Robert Stewart (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Rodger M. Smitherman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Sam Givhan (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Shay Shelnutt (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Steve Livingston (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Tim Melson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Tom Butler (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Vivian Davis Figures (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Will Barfoot (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-08 | Senate | Gudger Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 558 | pass | 33 | 0 | | | 2025-04-08 | House | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 648 | pass | 102 | 0 | | | 2025-04-08 | House | Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 647 | pass | 103 | 0 | | | 2025-04-08 | House | Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 646 | pass | 103 | 0 | | | 2025-04-08 | House | Third Reading in Second House | pass | 103 | 0 | | | 2025-03-20 | Senate | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 421 | pass | 33 | 0 | 1 | | 2025-03-20 | Senate | Gudger motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 420 | pass | 31 | 0 | 1 | | 2025-03-20 | Senate | Elliott motion to Adopt - Lost Roll Call 419 | fail | 10 | 21 | 1 | | 2025-03-20 | Senate | Stutts motion to Adopt - Lost Roll Call 418 | fail | 5 | 27 | 1 | | 2025-03-20 | Senate | Beasley motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 417 | pass | 31 | 1 | 1 | | 2025-03-20 | Senate | Third Reading in House of Origin | pass | 32 | 0 | 1 | ## Actions (34) - 2025-04-15: Enacted (Senate) - 2025-04-09: Ready to Enroll (Senate) - 2025-04-09: Enrolled (Senate) - 2025-04-09: Delivered to Governor (Senate) - 2025-04-09: Signature Requested (House) - 2025-04-08: Third Reading in Second House (House) - 2025-04-08: Insurance Engrossed Substitute Offered (House) - 2025-04-08: Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 646 (House) - 2025-04-08: Lovvorn 1st Amendment Offered (House) - 2025-04-08: Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 647 (House) - 2025-04-08: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 648 (House) - 2025-04-08: Gudger Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 558 (Senate) - 2025-04-03: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (House) - 2025-04-02: Insurance 1st Amendment (House) - 2025-04-02: Reported Out of Committee Second House (House) - 2025-03-20: Third Reading in House of Origin (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Banking and Insurance 1st Amendment Offered (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Beasley motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 417 (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Stutts 1st Amendment Offered (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Stutts motion to Adopt - Lost Roll Call 418 (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Elliott 1st Amendment Offered (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Beasley motion to Table - Lost Voice Vote (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Elliott motion to Adopt - Lost Roll Call 419 (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Gudger 1st Amendment Offered (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Gudger motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 420 (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 421 (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Engrossed (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Insurance (House) - 2025-03-20: Pending Committee Action in Second House (House) - 2025-03-19: Banking and Insurance 1st Amendment (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Senate) - 2025-03-18: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance (Senate) - 2025-03-18: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Senate) ## Bill text - As Introduced: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/SB252-int.pdf) - Engrossed: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/SB252-eng.pdf) - Enrolled: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/SB252-enr.pdf) ## Related bills - HB52: Income Taxes; to make technical changes to the funding provisions of the CHOOSE Act credits and increase funding, and to extend the sunset date for deductions… (enacted) - SB331: Barbour County, compensation of the judge of probate further provided for (enacted) - SB102: Medicaid; providing presumptive eligibility to pregnant women (enacted) - HB445: Cannabinoids found in hemp; licensure and regulation of sale of consumable cannabinoid products by Alcoholic Beverage Control Board imposed (enacted) - HB357: Tobacco products, heated tobacco product definition and tax provided for (enacted) - HB349: Russell County; sheriff, salary further provided (enacted) ## Sources - [As Introduced (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/SB252-int.pdf) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/SB252-eng.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/SB252-enr.pdf) ## Related - [HB52: Income Taxes; to make technical changes to the funding provisions of the CHOOSE…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB52-2025rs) - [SB331: Barbour County, compensation of the judge of probate further provided for](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB331-2025rs) - [SB102: Medicaid; providing presumptive eligibility to pregnant women](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB102-2025rs) - [HB445: Cannabinoids found in hemp; licensure and regulation of sale of consumable cann…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB445-2025rs) - [HB357: Tobacco products, heated tobacco product definition and tax provided for](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB357-2025rs) - [HB349: Russell County; sheriff, salary further provided](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB349-2025rs) - [Alabama bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/alabama/bills) - [Alabama state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/alabama) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB252-2025rs (as of 2026-10-16).