SB 483 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

PHARMACISTS: Provides relative to the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy. (gov sig)

This bill amends the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy to change how its members are selected and structured. It removes the requirement for board members to have specific expertise in sterile compounding and replaces the previous nomination process with direct appointments by the governor for all eight regional districts. These new appointments must still be confirmed by the Senate, and current board members will serve until June 30, 2026, before the new appointments take effect. The legislation directly affects the composition of the state's pharmacy regulatory board and the process by which its members are chosen.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 31, 2026 Last action May 5, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB483 Original → SB483 Engrossed · 4 edits · Apr 28, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to broaden the definition of eligible pharmacists from those specifically performing 'sterile compounding' to all 'compounding pharmacists,' thereby including those preparing non-sterile medications. Additionally, the appointment process for board vacancies was significantly altered to allow the governor to appoint members directly without a public nomination ballot when the vacancy involves a consumer or healthcare professional representative, streamlining the selection procedure.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a wider range of pharmacy practices beyond sterile compounding, and the applicability of the appointment process was modified to exclude public nominations for specific board member categories.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the requirement for pharmacists to be engaged in 'sterile compounding pharmacy' to simply 'compounding pharmacy,' expanding eligibility to include non-sterile preparations.

DEFINITION

Clarified the definition of an 'independent community pharmacy' to exclude chain organizations operating more than nine locations in Louisiana.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the public nomination ballot process with a direct appointment authority for the governor when vacancies occur for consumer or healthcare professional representatives.

TIMELINE

Established a strict 60-day deadline for the governor to fill vacancies involving consumer or healthcare professional representatives.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 28, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 40

Apr 28, 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

May 5, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 22, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Introduced

Rules suspended. Introduced in the Senate. Read by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors