North Summit News

The Ohio Senate has passed Senate Bill 211, sponsored by State Senator Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), which would make Ohio a participant in the Dietitian Licensure Compact. This legislation will permit licensed dietitians to practice in other compact member states.

"I have had the privilege to be a part of creating this Compact from the beginning," said Roegner. "It is important that the Buckeye State continues to remove burdensome regulations and creates pathways to employment. This compact will signal to the country that Ohio is a leader in increasing access to care for patients and maximizing mobility for licensed professionals."

This compact mirrors other compacts previously passed by the Ohio Senate but is not yet active. Three states—Nebraska, Alabama, and Tennessee—have enacted legislation to join. The governing commission will form once seven states have enacted similar legislation.

Kay Mavko, MS, RDN, LD, State Regulatory Specialist at the Ohio Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, stated: “The Ohio Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is grateful that SB 211- Dietitian Licensure Compact bill has been voted out of the Senate Health Committee and approved on the floor of the Ohio Senate. The bill allows Ohio dietitians to participate in a multi-state agreement that will reduce practice barriers and also improves access to nutrition services.”

Senate Bill 211 continues Senator Roegner's efforts to eliminate governmental barriers preventing people from working in their trained fields. In previous General Assemblies, she also sponsored interstate compact bills for cosmetologists (SB 89), social workers (SB 90), nurses (SB 3), occupational therapists (SB 7), physicians (SB 6), physical therapists (SB 5), counselors (SB 204), among others.

The bill now moves to the Ohio House for consideration.