Rep. Clark files bill in North Carolina House to increase drug price transparency

A new bill filed by State Rep. Tracy Clark in the North Carolina House seeks to enhance transparency in prescription drug pricing by mandating detailed disclosures from manufacturers, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 624 on March 31 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Prescription Drug Pricing.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill seeks to enhance transparency in prescription drug pricing by requiring manufacturers to provide detailed notifications and disclosures regarding drug price increases and new product pricing. Specifically, manufacturers must alert state agencies, insurance companies, healthcare plan providers, and pharmacy benefits managers of a substantial price increase, defined as 10% or more within 12 months, at least 60 days in advance. They must also disclose justification for the increase, the prior year’s marketing budget, acquisition date and price, and a history of past price hikes. For new drugs, manufacturers need to provide similar information within three days of FDA approval. Additionally, manufacturers must inform prescribers of any ingredient with a known risk of dependency. Noncompliance will result in civil penalties. The bill mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a data collection plan and establish a public online portal for transparency. An annual report on the 25 most prescribed, costly, and rapidly increasing cost drugs in the state is also required. This act becomes effective Oct. 1, 2025.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Mary Belk proposed the most bills (15) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Clark graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2007 with a BA and again in 2012 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Clark, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2024 to represent the state’s 57th House district, replacing previous state representative Ashton Clemmons.