HB 856 Mississippi House · 2025 Regular Session

Pharmacy Practice Act; extend repealer on and make various changes to.

HB 856 updates Mississippi's Pharmacy Practice Act by extending its effective date until 2029 and making several key changes to regulations. The bill clarifies definitions, expands the Board of Pharmacy's authority to regulate pharmacy services organizations, and requires registration for entities in the drug supply chain. It increases a surcharge on license renewal fees to fund an impaired pharmacists program, adds interns and technicians to disciplinary processes, and allows immediate license suspension without a hearing in public safety emergencies. The bill also modifies prescription monitoring reporting requirements to provide annual data upon legislative request.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Signed Apr 23, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the lower Current version · 15 edits
MAJOR
This bill updates Mississippi's Pharmacy Practice Act to clarify its scope, expand regulatory authority, and modernize enforcement mechanisms. It extends the repeal date for the old Pharmacy Practice Act, adds new definitions for pharmacy services administrative organizations, increases penalties for violations, and expands the Board's power to investigate and discipline various entities in the drug supply chain.
Scope change
The bill broadens the Board's regulatory authority to include pharmacy services administrative organizations, home medical equipment suppliers, and various entities in the drug supply chain. It also extends the repeal date for the old Pharmacy Practice Act from July 1, 2028 to July 1, 2029.
TIMELINE

Extended the repeal date for the Mississippi Pharmacy Practice Act from July 1, 2028 to July 1, 2029.

DEFINITION

Added definition for 'pharmacy services administrative organization' to clarify entities that can contract with pharmacies for administrative services.

Updated accreditation references from 'American Council on Pharmaceutical Education' to 'American Accreditation Council on Pharmaceutical Education'.

ENFORCEMENT

Expanded disciplinary provisions to include interns, externs, pharmacy technicians, registrants, and permit holders, not just licensed pharmacists.

Authorized the Board to issue subpoenas for investigations and keep investigation records confidential.

Added authority for the Board to order summary suspension of licenses without a hearing when there is immediate danger to the public.

Removed minimum monetary penalty amounts, giving the Board flexibility to assess penalties based on violation severity.

FISCAL

Increased the surcharge on license renewal fees from $5 to $10 to fund the impaired pharmacists or pharmacy students program.

REQUIREMENT

Required all entities in the drug supply chain to register with the Board, not just wholesalers and manufacturers.

Extended permit validity from biennial to triennial periods and increased maximum permit fees from $1,000 to $1,500.

Added requirement that home medical equipment suppliers located outside Mississippi must obtain Board permits to serve Mississippi patients.

Added requirement that violations may be assessed beginning with the date the offender first conducted business in the state.

Added requirement that the Prescription Monitoring Program provide reports to the Legislature upon request instead of annual reports.

Added requirement that entities assisting with returning outdated drugs to manufacturers must register with the Board and obtain permits.

Repealed the special license provision for University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy graduates and abolished the assistant pharmacist license.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 11, 2025 · House Feb 6, 2025

How they voted

510
Passed
Total votes 51
Mar 11, 2025
D Democratic16
16 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican35
35 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Amendments
2
Apr 23, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor
executive
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference Report Adopted
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference Report Filed
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed As Amended
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass As Amended
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Committee
Referred To Public Health and Welfare
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
Transmitted To Senate
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed As Amended
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
Referred To Public Health and Human Services
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Sam Creekmore
Sam Creekmore
RRepublican
MS
14