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6/18/2025
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General Assembly approves bill to allow Rhode Island to join state dietitian licensure compact
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STATE HOUSE — The General Assembly today passed legislation introduced by Sen. Mark McKenney and Rep. Joseph M. McNamara that would allow Rhode Island to join the state dietitian licensure compact.
The bill (2025-S 0345, 2025-H 5067aa) would permit a licensed dietitian from another state to become licensed in Rhode Island, and also permit a dietitian licensed in Rhode Island to become licensed in another compact state. The purpose of the compact is to increase public access to dietetics services, eliminate the necessity of licenses in multiple states, and enhance the state’s ability to protect the public’s health and safety.
“Obtaining a dietitian license can be a lengthy process in any state,” said Senator McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick). “The interstate compact will streamline the process for dietitians to be licensed in several states, reducing a number of administrative hurdles, allowing these professionals to focus on patient care rather than bureaucratic red tape.”
The compact would be the latest entered into by the state. Last year, the General Assembly enacted laws to allow the state to enter interstate licensure compacts for social workers, counselors, speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists.
“This bill allows dietitians to expand their geographic scope of practice into other states that are members of this compact,” said Representative McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston). “This really helps dietitians to reach clients — particularly the elderly — who are in their homes and unable to get to a dietitian, or those who are just over the border, or go off to college in another state. For a practice that employs several registered dietitians, this can become extremely expensive to have them licensed in multiple states.”
The measure now moves to the governor’s office.
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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