The Economic Development & Tourism subcommittee advanced House Bill 185, a measure that updates Georgia’s Dietetics Practice Act and authorizes the state to participate in an interstate licensure compact for dietitians.

Sponsor (name not specified) told the committee the statute—originating in 1994—has not kept pace with developments in nutrition therapy and dietetics. Robin Stegall, a registered dietitian in private practice for 16 years and chair of the Georgia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Government Affairs Committee, told members the bill’s language narrows the conditions that require licensed medical nutrition therapy and modernizes training terminology. Stegall said more than half of the bill’s text relates specifically to joining the interstate compact.

Stegall summarized the bill’s definition of medical nutrition therapy as “the provision of any of the following nutrition care services for the treatment or management of a disease or medical condition: nutrition assessment, nutrition diagnosis, nutrition intervention, or nutrition monitoring and evaluation.” She said the intent is to distinguish between general nutrition advice and care intended to treat medical conditions.

The measure would permit Georgia to join a multi‑state licensure compact for dietitians. Supporters said joining the compact would expand employment opportunities, improve continuity of care across state lines and reduce the burden of holding multiple licenses; they noted military spouses as a group that would particularly benefit. Jett Tony, working for the Georgia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, said the organization committed to return to the committee with a revised approach after concerns raised by a prior bill and that the current proposal reflects several years of work with national and allied groups.

Committee members asked whether the compact would operate only among participating states; supporters confirmed reciprocity would apply only to states that join the compact and that becoming one of the initial participating states gives Georgia a seat on the compact’s governing body to help shape rules. The subcommittee approved the bill by voice vote and advanced it to the full committee.