The Florida Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, along with the support of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, aims to reduce the barriers to license portability for Registered Dietitians by joining the Dietitian Licensure Compact.
Background
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
How Can You Help?
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?
View our recording of the Legislative Town Hall.
The Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has hired a new lobbyist firm. We have partnered with 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:
Attend a Delegation Meeting
The Florida Academy invites its members to participate in local delegation meetings. 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
- Where: Memorial Regional Hospital Conference Center; 3501 Johnson Street, Hollywood Florida 33021
Upcoming
- Pascoe County
- When:Monday 11/10; 10:00AM
- Where: Pasco Hernando State College; 10230 Ridge Road, New Port Richey, FL 34654
- Palm Beach County
- When: Thursday 11/13; 9:00AM
- Where: 18370 Limestone Creek Road, Jupiter Florida 33458