Latest Updates

The Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has an important update: we now have Senate and House bill numbers in an effort to modernize our licensure.

What does this mean? FAND, along with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, utilized the Model Practice Act that represents our stance on licensure by protecting consumers so that they may identify qualified nutrition providers and ensures that providers of medical nutrition therapy have met consistent standards. Our state has introduced modifications and accommodations based on our current licensure law and practice act. These bills seek to:

  1. License and regulate qualified nutrition professionals under two pathways — licensed dietitians and licensed nutritionists
  2. Allow practitioners to practice at their level of competence, thereby ensuring access to timely, qualified nutrition care
  3. Unless otherwise exempt, require a license for the narrowly tailored provision of medical nutrition therapy — the practice of which presents a clear risk of harm to the public if not provided by qualified practitioners

HB 823: Dietetics and Nutrition
Sponsor: Rep. Daryl Campbell (District 99 – Ft. Lauderdale)

SB 1154: Dietetics & Nutrition
Sponsor: Senator Mack Bernard (District 24 – parts of Palm Beach County)

This legislation is a critical step forward in clarifying who we are as dietitians, the level at which we practice, and the requirements for licensure. Most importantly, it helps ensure the public can clearly identify qualified professionals to provide medical nutrition therapy—protecting both our profession and the people we serve.

Missed the Legislative Town Hall?

Get all the latgest updates in our recording of the Town Hall that took place Oct. 28, 2025 including the introduction of new lobbysit representation, Public Affairs Consultants, who will be heading up the specifics of modernizing our practice act and representing our interests throughout this year’s legislative session. Hear from them as well as your Public Policy Committee on our recent initiatives.

View the recording here.

Legislative Leave-Behinds

General:

Value of a Registered Dietitian

Specific Ask to Sponsor:

Modernizing the Florida Dietetic Act

Handy Checklist for RDs:

Florida Advocacy Checklist

 

How You Can Help: Attend a Delegation Meeting

The Florida Academy invites its members to participate in local delegation meetings prior to the legislative session (typically held in October – December). Please contact info@eatrightlforida.org for any questions or additional information.

What are delegation meetings?
These meetings are public forums where county-based state senators and representatives meet with constituents and community groups to discuss local issues, concerns, and priorities before the legislative session. Simply Google your delegation in your county to find public hearings.

Depending upon the delegation, you may be required to fill out a section on your topic. You may use this description or edit it to add what you would like to include from your area of practice.

To introduce the delegation to the Licensed Registered Dietitians (RDs) of Palm Beach County. Collectively, we represent more than 2,000 RDs across Florida and encourage lawmakers to recognize the vital role nutrition plays and the importance of being able to identify a qualified practitioner. Nutrition is not only key to prevention and a healthy lifestyle but also an effective tool in managing and treating disease, with licensed RDs serving as the providers of medical nutrition therapy.

Join these upcoming public hearings with us! Showing up in numbers makes an impact. We have already signed up to present; we just need you to come out and support us!

PAST EVENTS

  • Marion County
    • When: Wednesday 10/1; 12:00PM
    • Where: College of Central Florida
  • Broward County
    • When: Monday 10/27; 5:00PM
  • Pascoe County
    • When:Monday 11/10; 10:00AM
  • Palm Beach County
    • When: Thursday 11/13; 9:00AM

    Goal: Join the Dietitian Compact

    The Council of State Governments (CSG) with the Department of Defense (DoD) and The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) to support the mobility of licensed dietitians through the development of a new interstate compact.

    Read more here>>  https://dietitianscompact.org

    The first step in this process is to modernize Florida’s Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Act so it aligns with the Academy’s vision for consumer protection and professional mobility. This alignment is critical, as Florida must enact specific compact language into law to officially join the Dietitian Licensure Compact. Learn more about the Compact

    To guide these efforts, Florida will utilize the Model Practice Act, which reflects the Academy’s stance on licensure. This model provides a comprehensive, inclusive, and uniform framework that:

    • Serves as guidance to meeting the unique needs of our state
    • Protects consumers by identifying qualified nutrition providers and ensuring consistency in standards for those providing Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)
    • Improves access to timely and cost-effective nutrition care for all Floridians

    Other Ways to Be Involved:

     

    Are you registered to vote?

    Most important! FAND encourages all students, members and non-members to register to vote.

    If you aren’t currently registered, sign up today!

    Meet your representatives and senators!

    We need to make sure that our elected officials know who we are. Get to know them before the 2026 legislative session begins on January 13, 2026! You don’t have to specifically mention anything about the Dietitian Compact and licensure, other than stressing the importance of nutrition, how RDs provide medical nutrition therapy, and the importance of recognizing a credentialed practitioner for consumer protection.

    Click here to find your representatives in the Florida House of Representatives.

    Click here to find your senators in the Florida Senate.

    **These are not your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives. The state of Florida issues licenses through the Department of Health.

    Not sure what to say? You can use our letter template to get you started, but be sure to tell your story! Why did you become a dietitian? Who do you help? Why are you so passionate?

    Bonus! Did you know that as a member, you have access to our Taste of Sunshine e-Cookbook that you can use to showcase some of what we do?