# Arkansas SB544: TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER LICENSURE ACT. Arkansas SB544, TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER LICENSURE ACT., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jimmy Gazaway (Republican), Mark Johnson (Republican); status enacted, last action 2025-04-18 (Notification that SB544 is now Act 775) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AR-SB544-2025 - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Arkansas SB544 - State: Arkansas - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER LICENSURE ACT. - Status: enacted - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-03-20 - Last action: 2025-04-18, Notification that SB544 is now Act 775 - Sponsors: Jimmy Gazaway (Republican), Mark Johnson (Republican) - Cosponsors: 2 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (122 yes, 7 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Pharmacies recover underpayments without charging patients: benefit, medium. For an underpayment violation, the Arkansas Insurance Commissioner must require the pharmacy benefits manager to repay the affected pharmacy or pharmacist. The payment includes the full underpayment plus interest at 12% per month. Interest is based on the days from claim adjudication until the viol… - Clearer network choices for Arkansas pharmacies: benefit, low. Pharmacy benefits managers must disclose each network’s claims bank identification, group, and processor control numbers, including each unique combination. They must provide these on request and list them in new, renewed, amended, and opt-out contracts; Medicare arrangements are included. Opt-out… - Stronger contract protections for Arkansas pharmacies: benefit, low. Pharmacy benefits managers cannot offer take-it-or-leave-it terms that break Arkansas law; lawful terms remain allowed. They must respond, communicate, and adjust when pharmacy groups, pharmacies, or pharmacists raise concerns about unlawful contract or provider-manual terms. This covers both propo… - Stronger enforcement protects Arkansas pharmacies: benefit, low. After notice and a chance for a hearing, the Insurance Commissioner may fine pharmacy benefits managers up to $5,000 per violation. Grounds include failures to follow Maximum Allowable Cost list processes, use required national average drug acquisition costs, or meet other requirements. The commiss… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Jimmy Gazaway (Republican), House - Sponsor: Mark Johnson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Kim Hammer (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Robin Lundstrum (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-14 | House | House Vote - Monday, April 14, 2025 3:35:18 PM | pass | 96 | 1 | | | 2025-04-02 | Senate | Senate Vote - Wednesday, April 2, 2025 4:41:36 PM | pass | 26 | 6 | 1 | ## Actions (15) - 2025-04-18: Notification that SB544 is now Act 775 (Senate) - 2025-04-15: DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR. (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor. (Senate) - 2025-04-14: ORDERED ENROLLED (Senate) - 2025-04-14: Returned from the House as passed. (Senate) - 2025-04-14: Returned to the Senate as passed. (House) - 2025-04-14: Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate. (House) - 2025-04-09: Returned by the Committee Do Pass (House) - 2025-04-02: Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on INSURANCE & COMMERCE- HOUSE (House) - 2025-04-02: RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE (House) - 2025-04-02: Ordered immediately transmitted to the House. (Senate) - 2025-04-02: Read the third time and passed. (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Filed (Senate) ## Bill text - SB544 - Introduced, 2025-03-20: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FSB544.pdf) - Act Version: [PDF](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=775.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 - [SB544 - Introduced (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2FPublic%2FSB544.pdf) - [Act Version (PDF)](https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=775.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-SB544-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).