Delaware legislation · 153rd General Assembly
Delaware HB449: Dietitian/Nutritionist Act/Amends
Status: In committee, October 5, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITIONIST LICENSURE ACT.
What the bill says
An act to amend title 24 of the delaware code relating to the dietitian/nutritionist licensure act.
From the introduced text, June 4, 2026:
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITIONIST LICENSURE ACT. WHEREAS, this State has a compelling interest in protecting the health, safety, and welfare of its inhabitants by ensuring that individuals who provide nutrition care services, including medical nutrition therapy, meet rigorous standards of education, supervised practice experience, and professional competency; and WHEREAS, Chapter 38 of Title 24 of the Delaware Code, the Dietitian/Nutritionist Licensure Act, currently establishes a single licensure category of licensed dietitian/nutritionist, which no longer reflects the distinct educational pathways, competencies, and scopes of practice of dietitians and nutritionists; and WHEREAS, advances in nutrition science, the emergence of new credentialing standards, and the evolving landscape of healthcare delivery necessitate the creation of 2 separate licensure categories -- licensed dietitian and licensed nutritionist -- each with its own defined scope of practice, educational requirements, and professional standards; and WHEREAS, the practice of dietetics involves the integration and application of principles derived from food, nutrition, biochemistry, metabolism, physiology, pharmacology, food systems management, and behavioral sciences, and licensed dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy for complex diseases and medical conditions, including in inpatient settings, enteral and parenteral nutrition, and other high-acuity care environments; and WHEREAS, the practice of nutrition involves the provision of nutrition care services and medical nutrition therapy for non-complex diseases and medical …
Sponsors
- Jeff Hilovsky (R, 4) · primary sponsor
- Brian Pettyjohn (R, 19)
- Michael Smith (R, 22)
- Eric Buckson (R, 16)
- Gerald Hocker (R, 20)
Latest actions
- : HS 1 for HB 449 - Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate
- : HS 1 for HB 449 - Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES
- : Substituted in House by HS 1 for HB 449
- : Reported Out of Committee (Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability)) in House with 1 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits
- : Introduced and Assigned to Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability) Committee in House
Votes
- Passed (3/5) (July 1, 2026): 41 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is HB449?
- HB449 is a bill in the Delaware Legislature (153rd General Assembly): Dietitian/Nutritionist Act/Amends.
- What does HB449 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend title 24 of the delaware code relating to the dietitian/nutritionist licensure act.
- What is the status of HB449?
- In committee as of October 5, 2026. Latest action: HS 1 for HB 449 - Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate (October 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB449?
- Jeff Hilovsky (R, 4), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB449?
- On the Delaware Legislature website: https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=143397
Source: official Delaware record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.