SB28 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: William “Bill” M. BeasleySenator
Democrat
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Pharmacy Board, licensure and regulation of pharmacists and operation of board
Summary: SB28 would reform the Alabama Board of Pharmacy’s regulation, licensure, and on-site roles for pharmacies and drug entities, with new supervision rules and permit requirements.
What This Bill Does
It updates definitions by replacing extern with intern, and removes the requirement that permit holders must have a full-time licensed pharmacist on site. It creates and regulates two new on-site roles—pharmacy technician and pharmacy clerk—who must be registered with the board and work under direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist. It strengthens enforcement with per-shipment penalties for shipping legend drugs without a permit and makes penalties apply to each separate offense, while establishing permit fees, renewal rules, and ownership-transfer provisions. It directs the board to adopt rules for administration and enforcement, updates rule publication and notice provisions, updates governance and funding, and expands licensure processes including training, internship, reciprocity, and examinations, while repealing an older provision (34-23-130).

Who It Affects
Manufacturers, bottlers, packagers, wholesalers, outsourcing facilities, private label distributors, and other permit holders: changes to permit requirements and the possibility of not needing a full-time pharmacist on site; penalties for violations and per-shipment offenses.
Pharmacy interns and externs: new and clarified requirements for practical training, supervision, background checks, and permits; internship/extern permits with defined expiration and renewal rules.
Licensed pharmacists: continued supervision responsibility for technicians and clerks; potential new duties under board rules and liability for supervised staff.
Pharmacy technicians and pharmacy clerks: new registered roles with on-site duties under direct pharmacist supervision; registration, fees, renewal every odd-numbered year, and continuing education requirements.
Physicians and medical practitioners: exemptions from permit requirements for practicing medicine.
Pharmacies and drug supply entities: must obtain permits, designate representatives, maintain records, and comply with enhanced oversight, reporting, and penalties.
General public (patients): potential changes in how drugs are dispensed and regulated due to updated licensure, supervision, and enforcement provisions.

Key Provisions
Deletes extern definition and aligns terminology so externs are covered by the term intern; removes on-site pharmacist requirement for permit holders.
Creates and authorizes two new board-registered roles, pharmacy technician and pharmacy clerk, with supervision requirements and defined operational functions.
Permits penalties to apply per shipment for shipping drugs without a permit and makes each offense a separate violation; civil penalties up to $4,000 per violation.
Requires board to adopt rules administering the pharmacy law; updates how rule changes are published and communicated; removes mandatory electronic mailing of rule changes to every pharmacist.
Allows board to issue and enforce permits for various entities (manufacturers, wholesalers, etc.) with fee schedules; requires designation of a representative and periodic renewal; establishes delinquency penalties.
Strengthens intern/extern training provisions including practical training under direct supervision, background checks, renewal cycles, and examination requirements; permits reciprocal licensure under specified conditions.
Repeals Section 34-23-130 and sets Oct 1, 2025 as the act’s effective date.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Pharmacy Board