# Arkansas SB257: TO AMEND THE MEDICAID FAIRNESS ACT; TO EXTEND THE APPEAL PERIOD FOR PROVIDERS IN THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM; AND TO REQUIRE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION IN NOTICES OF ADVERSE DECISIONS. Arkansas SB257, TO AMEND THE MEDICAID FAIRNESS ACT; TO EXTEND THE APPEAL PERIOD FOR PROVIDERS IN THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM; AND TO REQUIRE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION IN NOTICES OF ADVERSE DECISIONS., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Clint Penzo (Republican), Robin Lundstrum (Republican); status enacted, last action 2025-04-10 (Notification that SB257 is now Act 515) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-SB257-2025 - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Arkansas SB257 - State: Arkansas - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: TO AMEND THE MEDICAID FAIRNESS ACT; TO EXTEND THE APPEAL PERIOD FOR PROVIDERS IN THE ARKANSAS MEDICAID PROGRAM; AND TO REQUIRE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION IN NOTICES OF ADVERSE DECISIONS. - Status: enacted - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-02-19 - Last action: 2025-04-10, Notification that SB257 is now Act 515 - Sponsors: Clint Penzo (Republican), Robin Lundstrum (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (165 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 2 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Clearer Medicaid decisions and public rules: benefit, low. Arkansas Department of Human Services must give Medicaid providers written decisions explaining the action, supporting facts, and laws or rules violated. Notices must give clear, detailed reasons and cite every specific protocol, procedure, or policy manual reference used. The department must publi… - More time for Medicaid provider appeals: benefit, low. Arkansas Medicaid providers get at least 65 days from the notice date to challenge an adverse decision, replacing the 35-day period. This covers administrative reconsideration, administrative appeals, and similar processes. For providers and recipients, Arkansas Department of Human Services notice… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Clint Penzo (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: Robin Lundstrum (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-07 | Senate | Senate Vote - Monday, April 7, 2025 1:33:45 PM | pass | 35 | 0 | | | 2025-04-02 | House | House Vote - Wednesday, April 2, 2025 3:30:06 PM | pass | 95 | 0 | | | 2025-02-26 | Senate | Senate Vote - Wednesday, February 26, 2025 2:06:51 PM | pass | 35 | 0 | | ## Actions (24) - 2025-04-10: Notification that SB257 is now Act 515 (Senate) - 2025-04-08: DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR. (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor. (Senate) - 2025-04-07: ORDERED ENROLLED (Senate) - 2025-04-07: Read the third time and passed. (Senate) - 2025-04-07: Rules suspended. (Senate) - 2025-04-07: House Amendment No. 1 read first time, rule suspended, read second time and concurred in. (Senate) - 2025-04-07: Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment. (Senate) - 2025-04-03: Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass concur in House Amendment No. 1 (Senate) - 2025-04-02: Re-referred to INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE (Senate) - 2025-04-02: Returned from the House as passed as amended # 1 . (Senate) - 2025-04-02: Returned to Senate as passed, as amended # 1 (House) - 2025-04-02: Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate. (House) - 2025-04-01: Returned by the Committee Do Pass (House) - 2025-03-19: REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED (House) - 2025-03-19: Amendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed. (House) - 2025-03-19: Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment. (House) - 2025-02-26: Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE- HOUSE (House) - 2025-02-26: RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE (House) - 2025-02-26: Ordered immediately transmitted to the House. (Senate) - 2025-02-26: Read the third time and passed. (Senate) - 2025-02-25: Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Filed (Senate) ## Bill text - SB257 - Introduced, 2025-02-19: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FSB257.pdf) - Act Version: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=515.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 - [SB257 - Introduced (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FSB257.pdf) - [Act Version (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=515.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-SB257-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).