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MississippiSB 26642025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Dietitian Licensure Compact; ratify.

Sponsored By: Kevin Blackwell (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Public Health and Human ServicesPublic Health and Welfare

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 5 mixed.

Dietitians gain access across state lines

Mississippi joins the Dietitian Licensure Compact, allowing eligible dietitians to practice in member states without separate full licenses. Applicants need current registered-dietitian registration or an accredited master's or doctoral degree, 1,000 supervised practice hours, and a national exam passed within five years before initial licensure. The degree pathway also accepts recognized foreign equivalents, and Compact rules govern timing exceptions. Dietitians need an unrestricted home-state license, must notify the Commission, and must meet destination-state practice and state-law knowledge requirements. Continuing education follows home-state rules, and privileges expire and renew with the home-state license. Beginning July 1, 2025, Mississippi recognizes Compact privileges for covered practice, titles, and billing; privilege holders avoid the five-day annual nonresident practice limit. The Board can authorize other qualifying nonresidents to practice for up to five days yearly and grant reciprocal licenses when standards and reciprocity requirements are met. Member states can keep compatible licensing agreements with nonmember states.

Military dietitians can keep home licenses

Active-duty service members and their spouses who are dietitians can designate a Compact home state where they hold a current license in good standing. They can keep that designation throughout the service member's active duty. This preserves the home-state basis for Compact practice despite military-related moves.

Compact officials gain civil lawsuit protections

Commission members, officers, staff, and representatives receive immunity from covered civil claims for actions within their duties. Protection also covers actions reasonably believed to fall within those duties. The Commission must defend them and cover qualifying settlements and judgments. Intentional, willful, or wanton misconduct is not protected. These protections do not limit a dietitian's liability for professional malpractice under state law.

Dietitians face interstate practice fees

Member states can charge dietitians fees for Compact practice privileges. The Compact Commission can also charge privilege holders fees and collect annual assessments from member states. Assessments follow a formula set by Commission rule. These revenues cover the approved yearly budget to the extent other funding does not. The law sets no fee or assessment amounts.

Dietitian checks expand with privacy safeguards

Member states must regulate dietitians, investigate complaints, and share licensing, denial, disciplinary, and significant investigation records through a central system. Initial Compact applicants must provide fingerprints or other biometric information for state and FBI criminal-history checks, on the Compact's implementation schedule. These checks can add applicant costs, and shared communications exclude federal criminal-history data supplied by the FBI. Member states can access significant investigation and discipline records; contributing states can require permission before public release of designated information. Records must be removed when expunged under federal or contributing-state law, while submitted records otherwise serve as authenticated business records in member-state proceedings.

Dietitian discipline can end interstate practice

A remote member state can restrict a dietitian's privilege there, subject to that state's due-process protections. Only the home state can discipline the home-state license. A restriction on that license revokes all Compact privileges until the home state certifies restoration and Compact requirements are met. States can conduct joint investigations and issue subpoenas enforceable across member states; home states must give reported out-of-state conduct equal priority. Dietitians must report nonmember-state discipline or license restrictions within 30 days.

Moving dietitians must update home licenses

A dietitian can have only one Compact home state at a time. Moving between member states requires a new home-state application, applicable fees, required criminal-history checks, and any state-law knowledge requirements. Dietitians must notify both states; once the new home-state license starts, the old one converts to a Compact privilege. Single-state licenses remain available under each state's rules, including for moves involving nonmember states, but do not grant Compact privileges. Dietitians can hold multiple single-state licenses, and the Commission cannot set their licensing requirements.

Shared commission governs interstate dietitian licensing

The Compact starts when the seventh state enacts it and continues even if membership later falls below seven. A joint government commission administers it, and member-state executive and judicial branches must enforce it. Commission rules carry legal force the day after adoption unless a later date is set, including existing rules for new members. The Compact replaces conflicting state requirements, but courts can block Commission rules that conflict with specified state dietitian practice laws. Rulemaking includes public notice and comment; emergency rules require follow-up procedures within 90 days. A rule loses force if a majority of member-state legislatures reject it within four years.

State exits trigger dietitian transition protections

A state leaves the Compact 180 days after enacting a repeal, with required reporting continuing through withdrawal. It must notify licensees and recognize Compact privileges for at least 180 days after notice. For noncompliance, the Commission must give written notice, explain corrective steps, and offer training and technical help. Termination requires failure to fix the problem, exhaustion of other compliance measures, and a majority vote of member-state delegates. A terminated state must notify licensees, recognize privileges for at least six months after notice, and retain accrued obligations and liabilities. The Commission generally does not pay default-related costs without written agreement, and it can deny or terminate participation for material state constitutional conflicts, using the default process for termination.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Kevin Blackwell

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 163 • No: 1

House vote • 2/27/2025

Passed

Yes: 113 • No: 1

Senate vote • 2/13/2025

Passed As Amended

Yes: 50 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor

    3/21/2025legislature

  2. Enrolled Bill Signed

    3/18/2025House

  3. Enrolled Bill Signed

    3/18/2025Senate

  4. Returned For Enrolling

    2/28/2025House

  5. Passed

    2/27/2025House

  6. Title Suff Do Pass

    2/25/2025House

  7. Referred To Public Health and Human Services

    2/17/2025House

  8. Transmitted To House

    2/17/2025Senate

  9. Passed As Amended

    2/13/2025Senate

  10. Amended

    2/13/2025Senate

  11. Title Suff Do Pass

    2/4/2025Senate

  12. Referred To Public Health and Welfare

    1/20/2025Senate

Bill Text

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