The bills passed in 2026 clarify that, generally, only a licensed dietician or licensed nutritionist may provide services that constitute medical nutrition therapy. Further, this bill does not limit or restrict any of the following (among other things).
“A person who provides individualized nutrition recommendations for the wellness and primary prevention of chronic disease, health coaching, holistic and wellness education, guidance, motivation, behavior change management, services for non-medical weight control, or other nutrition care services if (i) the service does not constitute medical nutrition therapy; (ii) the person does not represent the person’s self-using titles protected under this bill or present law; and (iii) the person does not hold the person’s self out as licensed or qualified to practice medical nutrition therapy.
Note: This expanded practitioner exemption language was crafted by the Holistic Council years ago. We’re glad to see that after over a decade of lobbying, state legislatures are using pro-free speech, pro-practitioner choice language that reflects recent US Supreme Court decisions and the collective expectations of the marketplace.
Sources: Tennessee Code, Title 63, Chapter 25, SB2579