Update 2/5/2025: ACTION NEEDED!
The first licensure compact bill on the House of Representatives side was heard in committee at the State House last night! We just found out yesterday afternoon and luckily RIAND board members Julia Berman (co-president) and Wendy Leonard (policy co-chair) were able to drop everything and provide verbal testimony in support of the bill- thanks to both of you for rearranging your schedules and making this work! We can provide written testimony (which legislators have informed us is the most important) by Thursday 2/6 (TOMORROW) night at 5pm, so we need your help!
The ask:
We are asking everyone to email written testimony in PDF format to [email protected] by tomorrow (Thursday 2/6) at 5pm. Please know that this is posted online so do not include anything you don't want publicly known. To help make this faster and easier we have the following resources available.
Template version:
Below are examples of written testimony and a word document template letter that you can fill in the blanks (all highlighted), then remove all highlighting to customize as you wish. Please save as a PDF file. Three specific examples are attached from the perspective of two private practice RDs and one group practice owner for examples of language to incorporate if it fits your situation.
If your representative serves on the House Corporations Committee you can include directly on your email. For example, my (Shira's) rep is Enrique Sanchez, so I am emailing my testimony to him as well since he serves on this committee. I added a line in the letter I sent to him after I introduced myself "My name is Shira Hirshberg and I am a Registered Dietitian who resides in your district."
Templates:
DIY version:
We included all the mandatory elements in the template above, but if you want to start from scratch then please note you need to include the following:
The Clerk will post testimony to the General Assembly’s website as soon as possible.
Thank you for your help!
RIAND Co-Presidents and Policy Committee
Background:
Providing nutrition care services in multiple states, either in person or through telehealth, requires RDNs to become licensed according to each state's requirements, which can be time-consuming and costly. A potential solution to facilitate cost-effective interstate practice for licensed registered dietitian nutritionists is a licensure compact. The mobility of licensed RDNs — particularly RDNs who serve in the military or are spouses of military personnel — would help alleviate barriers to practice after relocating to a new state. In addition, the compact would improve public safety and promote workforce development by reducing unnecessary licensure burdens.
The Academy continues to work with key affiliates to get the Dietitian Licensure Compact legislation introduced in states across the country.
The following states have passed the groundbreaking Dietitian Licensure Compact legislation:
Academy website: https://www.eatrightpro.org/advocacy/initiatives/dietitian-licensure-compact
1/30/2025, 6:30 pm - virtual meeting on Dietitian Compact Licensure. To join, register here:
us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIodeurrDoqH9ZDgr18oiXS5THYO-ps8rGQ#/registration
The first licensure compact bill on the House of Representatives side was heard in committee at the State House last night! We just found out yesterday afternoon and luckily RIAND board members Julia Berman (co-president) and Wendy Leonard (policy co-chair) were able to drop everything and provide verbal testimony in support of the bill- thanks to both of you for rearranging your schedules and making this work! We can provide written testimony (which legislators have informed us is the most important) by Thursday 2/6 (TOMORROW) night at 5pm, so we need your help!
The ask:
We are asking everyone to email written testimony in PDF format to [email protected] by tomorrow (Thursday 2/6) at 5pm. Please know that this is posted online so do not include anything you don't want publicly known. To help make this faster and easier we have the following resources available.
Template version:
Below are examples of written testimony and a word document template letter that you can fill in the blanks (all highlighted), then remove all highlighting to customize as you wish. Please save as a PDF file. Three specific examples are attached from the perspective of two private practice RDs and one group practice owner for examples of language to incorporate if it fits your situation.
If your representative serves on the House Corporations Committee you can include directly on your email. For example, my (Shira's) rep is Enrique Sanchez, so I am emailing my testimony to him as well since he serves on this committee. I added a line in the letter I sent to him after I introduced myself "My name is Shira Hirshberg and I am a Registered Dietitian who resides in your district."
Templates:
- Fillable template (fill in highlighted areas then remove highlighting)
- Private Practice RD#1
- Private Practice RD#2
- Group Practice Owner RD
DIY version:
We included all the mandatory elements in the template above, but if you want to start from scratch then please note you need to include the following:
- Your name/organization
- Bill number(s)
- Viewpoint (for/against/neither)
The Clerk will post testimony to the General Assembly’s website as soon as possible.
Thank you for your help!
RIAND Co-Presidents and Policy Committee
Background:
Providing nutrition care services in multiple states, either in person or through telehealth, requires RDNs to become licensed according to each state's requirements, which can be time-consuming and costly. A potential solution to facilitate cost-effective interstate practice for licensed registered dietitian nutritionists is a licensure compact. The mobility of licensed RDNs — particularly RDNs who serve in the military or are spouses of military personnel — would help alleviate barriers to practice after relocating to a new state. In addition, the compact would improve public safety and promote workforce development by reducing unnecessary licensure burdens.
The Academy continues to work with key affiliates to get the Dietitian Licensure Compact legislation introduced in states across the country.
The following states have passed the groundbreaking Dietitian Licensure Compact legislation:
- Nebraska (April 2024)
- Alabama (May 2024)
- Tennessee (May 2024)
- Ohio (January 2025)
Academy website: https://www.eatrightpro.org/advocacy/initiatives/dietitian-licensure-compact
1/30/2025, 6:30 pm - virtual meeting on Dietitian Compact Licensure. To join, register here:
us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIodeurrDoqH9ZDgr18oiXS5THYO-ps8rGQ#/registration