Regulation of Medical Nutrition Therapy

The bill creates the state board of dietetics and nutrition (board) under the supervision and control of the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies. On and after September 1, 2026, an individual is prohibited from engaging in or offering to provide medical nutrition therapy unless the individual is licensed by the board. The board is authorized to license dietitians and nutritionists if they meet the requirements specified by the bill and the rules adopted by the board pursuant to the bill.

An individual who desires to practice as a dietitian must file with the board:

• An application for a license;
• Proof of completion of educational requirements and supervised practice experience; and
• Proof of compliance with examination requirements or proof of holding a valid current registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

An individual who desires to practice as a nutritionist must file with the board:

• An application for a license;
• Proof of completion of educational requirements and supervised practice experience; and
• Proof of compliance with examination requirements.

On or after September 1, 2026, but before September 1, 2028, the board may waive the examination requirement and may grant a nutritionist license to an applicant who meets specified criteria.

The board may deny or refuse to renew a license, suspend or revoke a license, or impose probationary conditions on a license. The board may also issue warnings or reprimands where the licensee or applicant for licensure has engaged in specified grounds for discipline or unprofessional conduct.

The board may issue a provisional license to practice as a dietitian or a nutritionist upon the filing of an application with the appropriate fees, submission of evidence of successful completion of the educational and supervised practice requirements, and submission of evidence that the individual has applied to take the required licensing examination.

The bill exempts specified individuals from the licensing requirements established by the bill.

An individual who practices or offers or attempts to practice as a dietitian or nutritionist without being licensed pursuant to the bill and who is not exempted from licensure commits a class 2 misdemeanor.

The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement the bill.

The bill is scheduled for repeal on September 1, 2035. Before the repeal, the functions of the board in regulating dietitians and nutritionists are scheduled for review in accordance with the sunset law.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)