WashingtonHB 20882025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Concerning the dietitian licensure compact.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 6 mixed.

Military dietitians can keep licensing home

Dietitians serving on active duty, and their spouses, can choose a licensing home state where they hold a current license. That license must be in good standing. They can keep that home-state choice throughout active duty, including after a military-related move.

Dietitians gain interstate practice with requirements

Washington joins the dietitian compact beginning July 1, 2028; operation also requires a seventh charter-member state and the commission-effective date. Qualifying dietitians can practice in other member states without separate licenses there. They need current registered-dietitian registration or an accredited master's or doctoral degree, including an equivalent accredited foreign program. The degree pathway also requires 1,000 supervised practice hours under a registered or licensed dietitian. It requires passing the Commission on Dietetic Registration exam, or an approved national exam, within five years before initial licensure, with continuous licensure since. Applicants need a home-state license without restrictions, must notify the commission, pay applicable fees, and meet the other state's legal-knowledge requirements. Privileges follow home-state license renewal cycles and require continued eligibility. Dietitians must follow each practice state's laws, but those states cannot require extra continuing education beyond home-state requirements.

Compact fees support dietitian licensing operations

The law creates a joint government commission to run the dietitian compact, hire staff, and manage its operations. Member states can charge fees for compact privileges. The commission can charge licensees and assess member states when other revenue does not cover its approved annual budget. It can also accept donations and other revenue; the law sets no fee or assessment amounts. The commission must keep financial records, publish annual reports, and obtain an annual review by a certified public accountant. People acting within their commission duties receive legal immunity, defense, and compensation for covered liabilities, except for intentional or willful misconduct.

Moving dietitians face new licensing steps

Dietitians can have only one compact home state at a time. Moving between member states requires a new home-state license application, applicable fees, and notice to both states. The new state checks eligibility, requires an FBI fingerprint-based background check, and applies additional state checks and legal-knowledge requirements. Once the new license starts, the former home-state license becomes a compact practice privilege. Dietitians who do not qualify for the compact can seek a regular license under the new state's rules.

Dietitian records are shared with safeguards

The commission must run a shared licensing data system and give each compact applicant a unique identifier. States must submit identity and license details, discipline, significant investigations, license-denial reasons, and nonconfidential alternative-program participation records. States must promptly report disciplinary actions and monitor the system. Dietitians must report nonmember-state discipline or license restrictions to the commission within 30 days. States can limit public sharing; significant investigation records are available only to other member states, and legally expunged records must be removed. Commission-certified records count as authenticated business records with protection against hearsay objections in court and administrative proceedings.

Dietitian oversight follows practice across states

Member states must regulate dietitians, investigate complaints, share required records, enforce commission rules, and recognize qualifying compact privileges. Initial privileges require fingerprint or other biometric screening using FBI records within the timeframe set by commission rules. States where dietitians practice can discipline their privileges, following that state's due-process protections; only the home state can discipline its license. Home-state discipline that restricts the license revokes privileges elsewhere until all restrictions are removed. The home state handles reported out-of-state conduct under its own laws, with the same priority as local conduct. States can investigate jointly, share case materials, issue subpoenas, and use alternative programs instead of discipline where state law allows. States can recover investigation and case costs from dietitians where state law allows; issuing authorities pay applicable subpoena travel and witness costs. States retain control over single-state licenses, which do not grant compact privileges, and cooperative agreements that do not conflict with the compact.

Dietitians follow binding interstate licensing rules

Commission rules have the force of law in member states without each state's usual rule-making process. The compact overrides conflicting state requirements only to the extent of the conflict; nonconflicting state laws remain enforceable. A court can find a commission rule ineffective where it conflicts with state laws governing how dietitians practice. These rules apply once Washington's compact law and the compact's activation requirements take effect.

Dietitians get transition time when states leave

The compact starts after a seventh state enacts it and stays active even if membership later drops below seven. A state can withdraw by repealing its compact law; withdrawal takes effect 180 days after enactment. It must recognize existing privileges for at least 180 days after notifying licensees and continue required reporting for periods before withdrawal. The commission can terminate a defaulting state by majority vote after it fails to fix the default and other compliance efforts are exhausted. A terminated state must recognize privileges for at least six months after notifying licensees. The commission can also deny participation, or use the default process to end it, for a state constitutional requirement that materially departs from the compact. The commission can seek court orders or damages to enforce compliance.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Mari Leavitt
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Adam Bernbaum
Democratic • House
Adison Richards
Democratic • House
Beth Doglio
Democratic • House
Cindy Ryu
Democratic • House
Cyndy Jacobsen
Republican • House
Gerry Pollet
Democratic • House
Janice Zahn
Democratic • House
Joe Timmons
Democratic • House
Julia Reed
Democratic • House
Kristine Reeves
Democratic • House
Michael Keaton
Republican • House
Nicole Macri
Democratic • House
Stephanie Barnard
Republican • House
Tarra Simmons
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 141 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/3/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 48 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote • 2/10/2026