Central Wisconsin News

A new bill authored by State Sen. Patrick Testin in the Wisconsin Senate seeks to establish a compact allowing dietitians to practice across member states under unified licensure rules, 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), 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 18 other co-sponsors.

Patrick Testin has authored or co-authored another nine bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.

Testin graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point in 2011 with a BS.

Testin, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2017 to represent the state's 24th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Howard Marklein.

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)
SB68	02/24/2025	The prescription drug monitoring program. (FE)
SB24	02/05/2025	Limitations on the total value of taxable property that may be included in, and the lifespan of, a tax incremental financing district created in the city of Middleton. (FE)