# Arkansas HB1254: TO AUTHORIZE A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGICAL PRACTITIONER TO PRACTICE INDEPENDENTLY IN THIS STATE; AND TO REMOVE THE INDEPENDENT PRACTICE PRIVILEGES FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINERS. Arkansas HB1254, TO AUTHORIZE A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGICAL PRACTITIONER TO PRACTICE INDEPENDENTLY IN THIS STATE; AND TO REMOVE THE INDEPENDENT PRACTICE PRIVILEGES FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINERS., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Missy Irvin (Republican), Lee Johnson (Republican); status enacted, last action 2025-04-03 (Notification that HB1254 is now Act 433) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1254-2025 - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Arkansas HB1254 - State: Arkansas - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: TO AUTHORIZE A LICENSED PSYCHOLOGICAL PRACTITIONER TO PRACTICE INDEPENDENTLY IN THIS STATE; AND TO REMOVE THE INDEPENDENT PRACTICE PRIVILEGES FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINERS. - Status: enacted - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-27 - Last action: 2025-04-03, Notification that HB1254 is now Act 433 - Sponsors: Missy Irvin (Republican), Lee Johnson (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (217 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Payment options for psychological practitioner services: benefit, low. Licensed psychological practitioners can receive payment for their services from Medicare, Arkansas Medicaid, private insurance, and other health benefit plans. Healthcare providers and professionals can also pay for these services. The law does not set payment rates, change patient eligibility, or… - Psychological examiners face tighter practice rules: cost, low. Arkansas removes psychological examiners’ statutory privilege to practice independently. Examiners must work under a qualified psychologist for services outside the activities listed in Arkansas Code § 17-97-102(a)(2)(A). The Arkansas Psychology Board cannot issue new examiner licenses after Decemb… - New independent psychology license with limits: mixed, low. Arkansas creates a licensed psychological practitioner credential for independent practice within the provider’s coursework, training, and supervised experience. It covers diagnosis, treatment planning, evidence-based therapy, testing, educational evaluations and support, and patient and family con… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Missy Irvin (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: Lee Johnson (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-03-31 | House | House Vote - Monday, March 31, 2025 1:46:56 PM | pass | 96 | 0 | 2 | | 2025-03-19 | Senate | Senate Vote - Wednesday, March 19, 2025 4:15:57 PM | pass | 28 | 1 | 4 | | 2025-02-19 | House | House Vote - Wednesday, February 19, 2025 1:56:51 PM | pass | 93 | 0 | | ## Actions (17) - 2025-04-03: Notification that HB1254 is now Act 433 (House) - 2025-03-31: Correctly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office. (House) - 2025-03-31: TO BE ENROLLED (House) - 2025-03-31: Senate amendment # 1 read and concurred in. (House) - 2025-03-19: Returned from Senate as passed, as amended # 1 (House) - 2025-03-19: Returned to the House as passed as amended # 1 . (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Read the third time and passed. (Senate) - 2025-03-18: REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED (Senate) - 2025-03-18: Amendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed. (Senate) - 2025-03-18: Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment. (Senate) - 2025-03-17: Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 1 (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Received from the House. (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate. (House) - 2025-02-18: Returned by the Committee Do Pass (House) - 2025-01-27: Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE- HOUSE (House) - 2025-01-27: Filed (House) ## Bill text - HB1254 - Introduced, 2025-01-27: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FHB1254.pdf) - Act Version: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=433.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R) ## Related bills - HB1265: AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. (enacted) - HB1237: TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO SET PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION OF THE PROHIBITION OF SOLICITATION OF INJURED INDIV… (failed) - HB1686: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS. (failed) - SB440: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE USE OF ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS; AND TO REGULATE ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS FACILITIES. (failed) - HB1695: TO CLARIFY THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS FOR PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A MUNICIPAL LIEN; TO ALLOW A MUNICIPALITY TO PETITION TO SET ASIDE THE SALE OF PROPERTY TO CERTAIN P… (failed) - HR1012: TO AMEND THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY; TO REQUIRE THAT A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BE SELECTED A… (failed) ## Sources - [HB1254 - Introduced (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FHB1254.pdf) - [Act Version (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=433.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R) ## Related - [HB1265: AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1265-2025) - [HB1237: TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1237-2025) - [HB1686: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1686-2025) - [SB440: TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE US…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-SB440-2025) - [HB1695: TO CLARIFY THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS FOR PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A MUNICIPAL LIEN; TO…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1695-2025) - [HR1012: TO AMEND THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HR1012-2025) - [Arkansas bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/arkansas/bills) - [Arkansas state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/arkansas) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-HB1254-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).