Bill > SB0377

This bill enacts the "Tennessee Procurement Protection Act" to safeguard state and local government procurement processes from foreign adversaries by prohibiting the purchase of certain technology products and services. The Act defines a "foreign adversary company" as an entity domiciled, headquartered, or controlled by a foreign adversary country, with specific exclusions for parent companies not primarily deriving revenue from such entities. It explicitly prohibits these foreign adversary companies from bidding on or providing "information and communication technology" (ICT), which includes a broad range of electronic devices, software, and telecommunications services, to state agencies or political subdivisions. Companies must certify they are not foreign adversary companies and are not knowingly selling products from them, with penalties including significant civil fines, contract termination, and a five-year ban from state contracts for false certifications. However, exceptions exist if no other reasonable option is available and the procurement is pre-approved after determining it poses a lesser threat to the state than not acquiring the technology.