AN ACT to provide for a legislative management study regarding prescription drug pricing and the maximum fair price as determined by the federal government.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Karen Anderson and 11 co-sponsors

Directs a 2025–26 interim study on prescription drug pricing, focusing on the federal 'maximum fair price' and IRA effects to identify options and potential state savings.

Filed with Secretary Of State 03/26

Main purpose

HB 1543 directs the North Dakota Legislative Management to conduct a study during the 2025–26 interim on prescription drug pricing with particular attention to the “maximum fair price” for drugs as published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The bill is a study mandate only — it does not itself change drug prices or procurement rules — and is intended to identify overlaps, usage patterns, and potential cost‑savings for the state and consumers.

Key provisions

Requires the Legislative Management to consider studying:

Prescription drug pricing generally; and
The “maximum fair price” for a drug as published by the HHS Secretary.

Directs the study to include consideration of federal drug price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (Pub. L. 117‑169) and any overlap with drugs currently paid for by the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).

Specifies stakeholders to be consulted:

Public Employees Retirement System;
Insurance Commissioner;
State Board of Pharmacy;
Other relevant stakeholders.

Requires a written report of findings and recommendations (including any recommended legislation) to be delivered to the Seventieth Legislative Assembly.

Who would be affected

State policymakers (Legislative Management, Legislature) — will receive the study and any legislative recommendations.

State purchasers and payors of prescription drugs, principally the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).

Regulators and licensing bodies (Insurance Commissioner, State Board of Pharmacy) and other health‑care stakeholders consulted in the study.

Consumers and state employees may be indirectly affected if the study results in future legislation that changes drug procurement, pricing, or reimbursement.

Timeline and procedural notes

Study period: the 2025–26 interim (conducted by Legislative Management).

Report due to: Seventieth Legislative Assembly (the next regular assembly following the 2025 session).

The bill references the Federal Inflation Reduction Act (2022) as the federal framework to be considered for its drug‑pricing negotiations and the HHS‑published maximum fair price benchmark.

Fiscal and policy impact

The bill mandates a study and stakeholder consultations; it does not appropriate funds or directly change programs. Fiscal impact is expected to be minimal and absorbed within existing legislative/agency resources unless the Legislative Management directs additional expenditures.

The study could produce policy options that, if implemented later, might yield budgetary savings for the state and lower costs for consumers depending on the recommendations adopted.

Status (selected actions)

Introduced: December 9, 2024 (filed).

Legislative activity: Referred to committee; studied during the 2025–26 interim per bill text.

Filed with Secretary of State: March 26, 2025 (per provided status).

Final report and any follow‑up legislation would be considered by the Seventieth Legislative Assembly.

Bill