Milwaukee City Wire

A bill authored by State Sen. Tim Carpenter in the Wisconsin Senate seeks to facilitate dietitians’ practice across member states through a licensure compact, promoting regulatory cooperation and oversight, according to the Wisconsin State Senate.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "ratification of the Dietitian Licensure Compact. (FE)".

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill ratifies Wisconsin's entry into the Dietitian Licensure Compact, allowing dietitians to practice in other member states under a "compact privilege" if they meet certain criteria, maintaining licensure in their home state, and abiding by the remote state's laws and regulations. It establishes a Dietitian Licensure Compact Commission to oversee the implementation and administration of the compact, including the creation of a coordinated data system for licensure and disciplinary actions and the authority for states to issue and enforce subpoenas across state lines. The compact's effective date is contingent on enactment by at least seven states, and it provides for amendments to be enacted by all member states. States may withdraw, but the withdrawal only becomes effective 180 days post-repeal.

The bill was co-authored by Representative Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), Senator Dora E. Drake (Democrat-4th District), Senator Dan Feyen (Republican-20th District), Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin (Democrat-8th District), and Senator Dianne H. Hesselbein (Democrat-27th District). It was co-sponsored by Representative Mike Bare (Democrat-80th District), Representative Calvin T. Callahan (Republican-35th District), and Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), along with 18 other co-sponsors.

Tim Carpenter has authored or co-authored another 15 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.

Carpenter graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1982 with a BA.

Carpenter, a Democrat, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2003 to represent the state's 3rd Senate district, replacing previous state senator Brian Burke.

In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB71	02/26/2025	Ratification of the Dietitian Licensure Compact. (FE)
SB64	02/21/2025	Injuring or killing a police or fire animal and providing a penalty
SB54	02/21/2025	Requirements concerning assistance in the detention of individuals who are or are alleged to be not lawfully present in the United States
SB38	02/12/2025	Personalized registration plate fees for gold star family special registration plates. (FE)
SB15	02/05/2025	Increased penalties for crimes against adults at risk; restraining orders for adults at risk; freezing assets of a defendant charged with financial exploitation of an adult at risk; sexual assault of an adult at risk; and providing a penalty
SB14	02/03/2025	Pelvic exams on unconscious patients and creating an administrative rule related to hospital requirements for pelvic exams on unconscious patients