Florida HB 823: Lost or Stray Dogs or Cats

Bill Text

HB 823 ORIGINAL 2026

96711
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb823-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to dietetics and nutrition; amending 2
s. 468.502, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes 3
made by the act; amending s. 468.503, F.S.; revising 4
and providing definitions; amending s. 468.504, F.S.; 5
prohibiting the provision of medical nutrition therapy 6
under certain circumstances; authorizing the use of 7
certain titles under certain circumstances; amending 8
s. 468.505, F.S.; revising exemptions for certain 9
persons to practice or provide services or activities 10
relating to dietetics or nutrition under certain 11
circumstances; amending s. 468.506, F.S.; revising the 12
membership and powers and duties of the Dietetics and 13
Nutrition Practice Council; amending s. 468.509, F.S.; 14
revising requirements for licensure as a dietician or 15
nutritionist; amending s. 468.51, F.S.; revising 16
licensure renewal requirements; amending s. 468.511, 17
F.S.; revising temporary permit requirements for 18
dieticians and nutritionists; amending s. 468.512, 19
F.S.; removing authorizations for a licensed 20
dietitian, a licensed nutritionist, or a licensed 21
nutrition counselor for the use of certain words in 22
connection to the licensee's name or place of 23
business; amending s. 468.513, F.S.; conforming 24
provisions to changes made by the act; repealing s. 25

HB 823 ORIGINAL 2026

96711
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb823-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

468.516, F.S., relating to practice requirements; 26
amending s. 468.517, F.S.; revising prohibited acts; 27
amending ss. 468.518, 501.0573, and 501.0575, F.S.; 28
conforming provisions to changes made by the act; 29
providing an effective date. 30
31
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 32
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Section 1. Section 468.502, Florida Statutes, is amended 34
to read: 35
468.502 Purpose and intent.—The Legislature finds that the 36
practice of dietetics and the practice of nutrition or nutrition 37
counseling by unskilled and incompetent practitioners presents a 38
danger to the public health and safety. The Legislature further 39
finds that it is difficult for the public to make informed 40
choices about dietitians and nutritionists and that the 41
consequences of wrong choices could seriously endanger the 42
public health and safety. The sole legislative purpose in 43
enacting this part is to ensure that every person who practices 44
medical nutrition therapy dietetics and nutrition or nutrition 45
counseling in this state meets minimum requirements for safe 46
practice. It is the legislative intent that any person 47
practicing as a dietician or a nutritionist dietetics and 48
nutrition or nutrition counseling who falls below minimum 49
competency or who otherwise presents a danger to the public be 50

HB 823 ORIGINAL 2026

96711
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb823-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

prohibited from practicing in this state. It is also the intent 51
of the Legislature that the practice of medical nutrition 52
therapy nutrition counseling be authorized and regulated solely 53
within the limits expressly provided by this part and any rules 54
adopted pursuant thereto. 55
Section 2. Section 468.503, Florida Statutes, is amended 56
to read: 57
468.503 Definitions.—As used in this part: 58
(1) "Board" means the Board of Medicine. 59
(2) "Commission" means the Commission on Dietetic 60
Registration, the credentialing agency of the Academy of 61
Nutrition and Dietetics. 62
(3) "Complex" means a disease state, medical condition, or 63
clinical presentation that requires medical nutrition therapy by 64
a licensed dietitian due to one or more of the following: 65
instability of the patient's health status; the presence of 66
multiple or interacting comorbidities; a high risk of 67
complications or rapid clinical deterioration; the need for 68
intensive monitoring; or the need for advanced nutrition 69
interventions, including therapeutic diets administered by 70
enteral or parenteral routes. Complex disease states or 71
conditions, including, but not limited to, severe malnutrition; 72
organ failure; conditions requiring enteral or parenteral 73
nutrition; renal disease requiring dialysis; severe metabolic 74
disturbances; post-bariatric surgery care; and critical illness. 75

HB 823 ORIGINAL 2026

96711
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb823-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(4) "Degree" means a degree received from an educational 76
institution that at the time the degree was awarded was 77
accredited by a United States institutional accrediting body for 78
higher education re