Senate committee advances bill allowing over‑the‑counter ivermectin suitable for human use

Sen. Clark, sponsor of Senate Bill 189, told the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee that the one‑page bill would "bring the law in line with practice" by letting ivermectin formulated for human use be sold over the counter in the state without a prescription. The bill text the committee reviewed says, in part, that "notwithstanding any law to the contrary, ivermectin suitable for human use may be sold or purchased as an over the counter medication in this state without a prescription or consultation with a health care professional."

The bill's sponsor, Senator Clark, described the policy as a public‑health access measure and argued that many people were already using ivermectin purchased from agricultural stores intended for animals rather than medicine prepared for humans. "People are using ivermectin. They're using ivermectin safely," Clark said, and added that supplying human‑formulated product would reduce dosing calculation errors when people try to convert animal products for personal use.

Supporters who testified said the drug has a long global history for parasitic diseases and cited a February–December 2021 study, discussed in committee materials, comparing drug use among health‑care workers in an international trial. Brock Thompson, who identified himself as a current resident and Arkansas citizen and said he had medical‑field experience, told the committee the change would improve access in rural areas and argued that ivermectin is a well‑established, historically safe medicine for some conditions.

Committee members asked about how many U.S. states had considered similar measures; Clark said the measure was modeled on Tennessee's bill and that several other states had proposed or passed similar language. He also acknowledged safety questions would arise and referenced a National Library of Medicine study included in the packet.

After brief public testimony and a short committee discussion, the chair called a motion to pass the bill. The committee recorded the motion, a second, and a voice vote; the chair announced the motion carried.

The measure as presented would let manufacturers or retailers sell ivermectin "suitable for human use" without a prescription; it does not create new labeling or pharmacy oversight provisions in the text presented to the committee. The bill does not state an effective date or implement specific retail‑licensing changes and does not reference federal limits on pharmacy compounding or Food and Drug Administration determinations.

Committee members and witnesses noted the bill's intention was to reduce the risk of people mixing and dosing animal formulations for human use, but they also discussed safety and the difference between off‑label use, prescription practice, and over‑the‑counter availability. The committee voted to advance SB 189.