SB2670 • 2026

Public Contracts

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 12 and Title 49, relative to the procurement opportunities available to private institutions of higher education in this state.

Budget Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Akbari, Harris
Last action: 2026-04-15
Official status: Transmitted to Governor for action.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how verification and enrollment processes will be implemented.

Higher Education Purchasing Act

This bill allows private nonprofit colleges and universities in Tennessee to purchase goods and services through state cooperative purchasing contracts on the same terms as public institutions.

What This Bill Does

Allows eligible private higher education institutions to purchase goods and services using state cooperative purchasing contracts at the same prices as public institutions.
Requires a simple enrollment process for private institutions to join these contracts without fees.
Prohibits vendors from charging higher prices or retaliating against private institutions that use state contracts.

Who It Names or Affects

Private nonprofit colleges and universities in Tennessee
Vendors who sell goods and services through state contracts

Terms To Know

Eligible private institution of higher education: A private, nonprofit college or university that is accredited by a federally recognized accrediting body, located in Tennessee, and authorized to operate there.
State cooperative purchasing contract: A statewide contract managed by the state for buying goods and services at discounted prices.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how private institutions will be verified or enrolled in these contracts.
It is unclear what happens if a vendor violates the rules against charging higher prices or retaliating against participating private institutions.

Bill History

2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Transmitted to Governor for action.
2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by H. Speaker
2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by Senate Speaker
2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Enrolled and ready for signatures
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed H., Ayes 81, Nays 3, PNV 3
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Subst. for comp. HB.
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Comp. SB subst.
2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/2/2026
2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/24/2026
2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in Education Committee to 3/24/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/17/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Education Committee
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 3/11/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Higher Education Subcommittee to 3/11/2026
2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
2026-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Higher Education Subcommittee for 3/4/2026
2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 2/26/2026
2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
2026-02-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 2/24/2026
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Higher Education Subcommittee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Education Committee
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill authorizes an
eligible private institution of higher education to purchase goods and services through state cooperative purchasing contracts on the same terms and pricing available to public institutions of higher education.

Participation in a state cooperative purchase contract is voluntary and does not require state appropriations or a state subsidy in any annual state budget.
Further, t
he state is not financially responsible for
such
purchases or contracts made by an eligible private institution of higher education
.

As used in this bill, an "eligible
private institution of higher education" means a private, nonprofit college or university that
meets all of the following criteria:



Is accredited by a federally recognized accrediting body
.


Is located in this state
.


Is authorized to operate in this state by the Tennessee higher education commission
pursuant to the
Tennessee Higher Education Authorization Act of 2016.

NON-INTERFERENCE WITH STATE PROCUREMENT

This bill prohibits access
granted pursuant to this
bill from
(
i
)
r
educ
ing
the availability of any goods or services available to public institutions of higher education
,
(
ii
)
i
ncreas
ing
the price of goods or services paid by the state
,
or

(
iii
)
c
reat
ing
any state liability.

Vendors participating in state contracts
must
not charge eligible private institutions of higher education higher prices for the same goods or services provided to public institutions of higher education.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLEMENTATION

This bill requires t
he department of general services, in coordination with the Tennessee higher education commission,
to
establish a simple enrollment and verification process to allow eligible private institutions of higher education to participate in state cooperative purchasing contracts. The department or commission
must
not charge any eligible private institution of higher education a participation fee or any other fee in order to participate in state cooperative purchasing contracts pursuant to
thi
s bill.

PROTECTION AGAINST CONTRACT RETALIATION

This bill prohibits a vendor from r
efus
ing
to sell or provid
e
goods or services to an eligible private institution of higher education that elects to participate in this
bill,
or
t
erminat
ing
or alter
ing
its pricing in retaliation for an eligible private institution of higher education electing to participate in this
bill.
A violation of this
prohibition
is an unfair trade practice for purposes of the Unfair Trade Practice and Advertising Act
, which may subject a violator to injunctions, damages, and other
penalties.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 2032
By Harris

SENATE BILL 2670
By Akbari
SB2670
011505
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 12
and Title 49, relative to the procurement
opportunities available to private institutions of
higher education in this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Higher Education Purchasing
Act."
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 7, is amended by adding
the following as a new part:
49-7-2501. Legislative findings.
The general assembly finds and declares that:
(1) The public institutions of higher education in this state are permitted
to purchase goods and services through statewide procurement contracts that
provide significantly discounted pricing;
(2) Private colleges and universities, including nonprofit and minority-
serving institutions, are not allowed to purchase goods in the same manner as
public institutions and must pay higher prices for identical goods and services;
(3) Such increased procurement costs reduce the resources available to
private institutions for instruction, student aid, and campus operations; and
(4) Tennessee has a compelling interest in strengthening all institutions
of higher education in this state, regardless of governance structure.
49-7-2502. Definitions.
As used in this part:

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(1) "Eligible private institution of higher education" means a private,
nonprofit college or university that:
(A) Is accredited by a federally recognized accrediting body;
(B) Is located in this state; and
(C) Is authorized to operate in this state by the Tennessee higher
education commission pursuant to part 20 of this chapter; and
(2) "State cooperative purchasing contract" means any statewide
contract or master agreement administered by the department of general
services or any other state procurement authority.
49-7-2503. Access to state purchasing contracts.
(a) An eligible private institution of higher education is permitted to purchase
goods and services through state cooperative purchasing contracts on the same terms
and pricing available to public institutions of higher education.
(b) Participation in a state cooperative purchase contract is voluntary and does
not require state appropriations or a state subsidy in any annual state budget.
(c) The state is not financially responsible for any purchases or contracts made
by an eligible private institution of higher education pursuant to this part.
49-7-2504. Non-interference with state procurement.
(a) Access granted pursuant to this part must not:
(1) Reduce the availability of any goods or services available to public
institutions of higher education;
(2) Increase the price of goods or services paid by the state; or
(3) Create any state liability.

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(b) Vendors participating in state contracts shall not charge eligible private
institutions of higher education higher prices for the same goods or services provided to
public institutions of higher education.
49-7-2505. Administrative implementation.
(a) The department of general services, in coordination with the Tennessee
higher education commission, shall establish a simple enrollment and verification
process to allow eligible private institutions of higher education to participate in state
cooperative purchasing contracts.
(b) The department or commission shall not charge any eligible private institution
of higher education a participation fee or any other fee in order to participate in state
cooperative purchasing contracts pursuant to this part.
49-7-2506. Protection against contract retaliation.
(a) A vendor shall not:
(1) Refuse to sell or provide goods or services to an eligible private
institution of higher education that elects to participate in this part; or
(2) Terminate or alter its pricing in retaliation for an eligible private
institution of higher education electing to participate in this part.
(b) A violation of this section is an unfair trade practice for purposes of the Unfair
Trade Practice and Advertising Act, compiled in title 47, chapter 25, part 9.
SECTION 3. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance
is held invalid, then the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the act that
can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to that end, the provisions of
this act are severable.
SECTION 4. The headings in this act are for reference purposes only and do not
constitute a part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is

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requested to include the headings in any compilation or publication containing this act.
SECTION 5. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.