SB 401 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

PHARMACEUTICALS: Provides for a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. (8/1/26)

SB 401 establishes a Prescription Drug Affordability Board within Louisiana's Department of Insurance to address rising prescription drug costs. The board would require drug manufacturers to report detailed pricing data - including production costs, research expenses, and marketing costs - and develop a list of "critical" drugs based on factors like public healthcare costs, usage, and availability of similar treatments. For drugs on this list, the board would set maximum allowable prices for sale in Louisiana, directly affecting manufacturers, pharmacies, and residents who purchase these medications. The bill aims to increase price transparency and control costs through data-driven price-setting, but it has not yet been enacted as it remains prefiling status.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Signed Jun 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB401 Original → SB401 Act 915 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was enrolled and signed into law as Act 915, expanding the original proposal by adding Representative Chassion as a sponsor. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a patient advocacy group member to the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, ensuring consumer representation in setting drug price caps. The bill also clarifies the definition of 'rebates' to include various price concessions and updates the legislative findings to emphasize transparency as a cost-containment strategy.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to set maximum prices for prescription drugs in Louisiana, but the composition of the board has been broadened to include patient advocacy.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a seventh member to the Board: one representative from a patient advocacy group appointed by the commissioner, ensuring patient voices are included in pricing decisions.

DEFINITION

Expanded the definition of 'rebate' to explicitly include base price concessions, price protection rebates, and performance-based price concessions that reduce issuer liabilities.

REQUIREMENT

Added new legislative findings stating that transparency is essential for containing healthcare costs and understanding price drivers.

SPONSORSHIP

Added Representative Chassion as a co-sponsor alongside Senator Talbot.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 15, 2026 · House May 19, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 40

Apr 15, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

R Republican28

27 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.

upper

May 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 89, nays 6. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.

lower

May 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.

lower

May 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays.

upper

May 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee report received. Lies over under the rules.

lower

May 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.

upper

May 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate conference committee members appointed: Talbot, Bass, and Myers.

upper

May 26, 2026

Introduced

Notice of Senate rejecting House amendments.

lower

May 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 13, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (13-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

May 5, 2026

Committee

Read by title, amended, recommitted to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (11-0). To be recommitted to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

lower

Apr 21, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Insurance.

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Insurance.

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor