TO CREATE A PATHWAY FOR A GRADUATE OF A FOREIGN MEDICAL SCHOOL TO BE LICENSED IN THIS STATE IF HE OR SHE IS...
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SB 601 — TO CREATE A PATHWAY FOR A GRADUATE OF A FOREIGN MEDICAL SCHOOL TO BE LICENSED IN THIS STATE IF HE OR SHE IS OFFERED FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT AS A PHYSICIAN FROM A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.
Last action — Notification that SB601 is now Act 971
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced April 01, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Republican) on April 22, 2025.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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2 sponsors
2 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
1 added · 2 removedPlain-language change summary
In the latest version of Bill SB 601, the approval date of the act has been updated from "Act 971 of the Regular Session" to a new date of "4/21/25." This change indicates a specific timeline for when the legislation will take effect or be formally recognized. Having a clear approval date matters because it helps businesses, individuals, and organizations understand when they need to comply with the new rules or regulations outlined in the bill.
Act 971 of the Regular Session State of Arkansas As Engrossed:
9 /s/Hester APPROVED:4 04-09-2025 11:23:32 JMB508
4/21/25 4 04-09-2025 11:23:32 JMB508
AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.
The bill establishes a new pathway for graduates of foreign medical schools to obtain medical licenses in Arkansas under specific employment conditions.
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Arkansas Code § 17-95-202
(4) "Healthcare provider" means a healthcare professional, healthcare facility, or entity licensed or certified to provide healthcare services in this state as recognized by the Arkansas State Medical Board; and (5) "Medically underserved population" means the same as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 254b, as existing on January 1, 2025.
Defines 'healthcare provider' and 'medically underserved population' for clarity in the law.
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Arkansas Code § 17-95-403(b)(3)(A)(iii)
He→ he or she must shall also have:Clarifies the language to indicate that the licensing requirements apply to both genders.
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Arkansas Code § 17-95-403(b)(3)(A)(iii)
(c) If he or she has been offered full-time employment as a physician from a healthcare provider that operates in a medically underserved population in this state, he or she shall:
Introduces specific conditions under which foreign medical graduates can obtain a license based on employment in medically underserved areas.
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Arkansas Code § 17-95-403
(c)(1) An applicant who is licensed under subdivision (b)(3)(A)(iii)(c) of this section shall: (A) Maintain his or her employment with the original healthcare provider that operates in this state for at least three (3) consecutive years after licensure; (B) Notify the Arkansas State Medical Board within five (5) business days after any change of employer; (C) Appear personally before the Arkansas State Medical Board together with the sponsoring physician who is licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board; (D) Present to the Arkansas State Medical Board information as to what area or department in which he or she will be practicing medicine and who will be his or her sponsoring physician.
Establishes requirements for foreign medical graduates under a new provisional licensing pathway.
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Arkansas Code § 17-95-403
(2) The license issued under subdivision (b)(3)(A)(iii)(c) of this section shall be a provisional license that authorizes practicing medicine only within the clinical programs approved by the sponsoring physician who is licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board.
Specifies that the new license for foreign medical graduates is provisional and tied to their employment circumstances.
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Arkansas Code § 17-95-403
(3)(A) The Arkansas State Medical Board shall issue each provisional license under subdivision (b)(3)(A)(iii)(c) of this section for a period of one (1) year.
Notes that provisional licenses will be valid for one year and outlines the conditions for renewal.
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Arkansas Code § 17-95-403
(4) At the end of the second year of practice with a provisional license under subdivision (b)(3)(A)(iii)(c) of this section, the physician is eligible for an active, unrestricted license to practice medicine in this state after review and approval of the Arkansas State Medical Board.
Allows for progression from a provisional to an unrestricted license after two years of practice.
Amendments
2 amendments- Amendment H1 April 08, 2025 Show changes
- Amendment H2 April 08, 2025 Show changes
Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.
Action History
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Notification that SB601 is now Act 971
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DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
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Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
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ORDERED ENROLLED
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Read the third time and passed.
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Rules suspended.
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House Amendment No. 1 & 2 read first time, rule suspended, read second time and concurred in.
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Placed on second reading for purpose of amendment.
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Rules suspended.
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Returned from the House as passed as amended # 1 & 2 .
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Returned to Senate as passed, as amended # 1 & 2
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Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
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Returned by the Committee Do Pass
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REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
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Amendment No. 1 & 2 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
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Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
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Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE- HOUSE
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RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
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Ordered immediately transmitted to the House.
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Read the third time and passed.
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Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
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Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE
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Filed
Sponsors
- Lee Johnson · Primary
- Bart Hester · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 136 not signed on
Sponsors (2)
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (136)
136 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 136 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors SB 601?
- SB 601 is sponsored by Lee Johnson and Bart Hester.
- What is the current status of SB 601?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced April 01, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 601?
- Track SB 601 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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