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SB 848

County Government - As enacted, authorizes a county that has adopted the County Purchasing Law of 1957 to require a competitive bid process for insurance brokerage services. - Amends TCA Title 5 and Title 12, Chapter 3, Part 12.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Tom Hatcher

Tennessee counties can now require competitive bidding for insurance brokerage services under state purchasing law, enabling cost competition and oversight.

Pub. Ch. 381
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 848

Legislative bill overview

SB 848 authorizes Tennessee counties operating under the County Purchasing Law of 1957 to implement competitive bidding processes when selecting insurance brokerage services. The bill amends state purchasing law to explicitly include insurance brokerage services within competitive procurement requirements, giving counties discretionary authority to require bids rather than sole-source contracting.

Why is this important

Insurance brokerage services represent significant ongoing expenses for county governments, and competitive bidding can potentially reduce costs and improve service quality through market competition. This change addresses a gap in purchasing law that may have previously allowed counties to bypass competitive processes for these services, affecting taxpayer spending and vendor access to government contracts.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation burden: Smaller counties may lack procurement capacity to manage competitive bidding processes for insurance services, potentially increasing administrative costs
  • Relationship continuity: Existing county-broker relationships could be disrupted by mandatory competitive processes, potentially affecting service continuity or institutional knowledge
  • Market dynamics: Insurance brokerage markets may be limited in rural areas, potentially reducing competitive benefit or disadvantaging local brokers unable to compete with larger firms

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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