Senate Passes Roegner Bill Expanding Opportunities for Dietitians

COLUMBUS—The Ohio Senate today passed Senate Bill 211, sponsored by State Senator Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), which would enter Ohio as a party to the Dietitian Licensure Compact. This legislation will allow licensed dietitians to practice in another compact member state.

"I have had the privilege to be a part of creating this Compact from the beginning," said Roegner. "It is important that the Buckeye State continues to remove burdensome regulations and creates pathways to employment. This compact will signal to the country that Ohio is a leader in increasing access to care for patients and maximizing mobility for licensed professionals." 

This compact is similar in form and function to other compacts that the Ohio Senate has passed. This compact is a brand new compact and it is not yet active. Three states (Nebraska, Alabama, and Tennessee) have enacted legislation to join. The governing commission will form once seven states have enacted this legislation.

Kay Mavko, MS, RDN, LD State Regulatory Specialist Ohio Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics said, “The Ohio Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is grateful that SB 211- Dietitian Licensure Compact bill has been voted out of the Senate Health Committee and approved on the floor of the Ohio Senate. The bill allows Ohio dietitians to participate in a multi-state agreement that will reduce practice barriers and also improves access to nutrition services.”

Senate Bill 211 continues the work done by Senator Roegner to remove burdensome government barriers so that people are free to work in the field for which they are trained. Over the last two General Assemblies, Senator Roegner also sponsored interstate compact bills for cosmetologists (SB 89), social workers (SB 90), nurses (SB 3), occupational therapists (SB 7), physicians (SB 6), physical therapists (SB 5), counselors (SB 204), and several others.

This bill now heads to the Ohio House for consideration.