Divisions of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (2024)

Here are the Divisions that make up the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.

If you don't know which division you need to view, please use the dropdown menu below to search by profession or business.

Consumer Insurance Services-Vickie Trice, Director. 615-741-2218 or 1-800-342-4029 (inside Tennessee) Consumer Insurance Services exists to educate consumers and mediate insurance-related disputes.

• The educational programs cover a vast array of insurance and insurance related issues, disaster assistance and referrals to special programs.
• The primary responsibility is the investigation and mediation of insurance claims and other insurance related disputes as a third-party mediator. Investigators are trained to determine if the involved insurance company and/or producer is acting in accordance with Tennessee laws, rules and regulations.

Insurance- This division is responsible for enforcing the state's insurance laws.

• Agent Licensing - This office regulates insurance producers licensed to do business in Tennessee. It also regulates approved continuing insurance education providers.
• Financial Affairs Section - This section regulates the financial and operational condition of life, accident and health, title, health maintenance organizations, governmental entity pools, and risk retention groups. This section reviews financial statements, receives required reports and premium taxes, and performs detailed company examinations to enforce financial requirements and compliance with insurance laws, rules, and regulations.
• Consumer Insurance Services Section - This office provides consumer outreach and mediation services to consumers to help resolve insurance-related disputes. In addition, a fraud and special investigations unit investigates and recommends actions against violators of Tennessee insurance statutes.
• Policy Analysis Section - 615-741-2825
  • The primary function of this section is to review form, rate, and rule filings for compliance with Tennessee insurance statutes, rules, regulations, and bulletins.
  • This section is divided into three units, based on the lines of insurance.
  • Life & Health Unit:
    • This unit reviews filings regarding, life, annuity, accident and health, credit life, long-term care, disability, Medicare supplement, and legal insurance products.
    • This unit also receives certifications of compliance with health care utilization review agents, external review organizations, and handles healthcare grievance reports, as required by statute.
  • Property and Casualty Unit:
    • This unit reviews filings regarding personal and commercial property and casualty products.
    • This unit also reviews and registers vehicle protection (anti-theft) products warranty programs and oversees the Tennessee Automobile Insurance Plan (the assigned risk auto plan).
  • Workers’ Compensation Unit
    • This unit reviews filings associated with workers' compensation insurance.
    • This unit also oversees the administration of Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Insurance Plan (assigned risk plan) and takes inquiries from persons aggrieved by the application of workers' compensation rating system.
• Fraud Unit - This unit investigates fraudulent activity in the insurance industry.

Regulatory Boards- This division licenses and regulatesseveral hundred thousand Tennesseans in their professions and businesses. These boards and commissions are empowered to take disciplinary action-including revocation of licenses and assignment of civil penalties against license-holders found guilty of violating laws governing their professions. The division has a separate investigations unit. 615-741-3449.

• Regulatory Boards and Commissions—The commissioner of Commerce & Insurance appoints the members of the Cemetery Advisory Board, the Private Protective Services Advisory Committee, and the Scrap Metal Registration Program. All other appointments are made by the governor.

Securities- This division helps protect Tennessee investors by maintaining the integrity of capital markets and enforcing securities laws. 615-741-2947 in Nashville - (800) 863-9117 anywhere in Tennessee.

• Securities Registration- This section registers all non-exempt securities and receives notice filings for covered securities to be sold in the state.
• Broker-Dealer, Agent, Investment Adviser Registration- This section registers broker-dealers (securities firms), registered representatives, agents (stockbrokers), and investment advisers to do business in the state and receives notice filings for federally-registered investment advisers. There are over 1,700 broker-dealers, 600 investment advisers, and 90,000 agents registered through this section.
• Enforcement- This section is responsible for the investigation of complaints involving securities violations and enforcing the 1980 Tennessee Securities Act. Cases involving administrative, civil, or criminal actions originate from this section.

Fire Prevention- The commissioner of Commerce and Insurance also serves as the State Fire Marshal, and administers fire prevention programs through this division.

• Administrative Services Section. This section coordinates public fire education efforts, administers the certification program for fire and building code inspectors, collects statewide fire data, and issues permits and licenses. 615-741-2981.
• Electrical and Residential Inspection Section. This section performs electrical inspections for residential, commercial, and industrial properties which include new and existing structures. The section is also available to assist local officials with large commercial and industrial installations. If you have questions, please email SFMO.permits-licensing@tn.gov or call us at 615-741-7170
• Codes Enforcement Section. This section reviews new construction plans and inspects schools, day care facilities, residential mental health and mental retardation facilities, propane gas dealerships, and fireworks. Blasting, modular buildings, manufactured homes, and recreational vehicles are regulated by this section. 615-741-7190.
• Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy. This educational facility is designed to train volunteer and career firefighters, codes enforcement personnel, and others involved in the delivery of emergency services throughout Tennessee. 931-294-4111.
• Persons with information about incendiary fires are urged to call the Arson Hotline at (800) 762-3017.

TennCare Oversight- The TennCare Division protects the public health and the integrity of the TennCare Program through oversight, examination, and monitoring of TennCare HMOs and BHOs. 615-741-2677.

• The responsibilities of this division include reviewing and analyzing financial status, market conduct activities, and compliance with federal and state laws, rules, and regulations as they apply to the TennCare Program HMO and BHO operations. The division also supports the TennCare Claims Processing Panel, overseeing the independent review of provider claims denials.

Tennessee Emergency Communications Board- The Emergency Communications Board is a self-funded, nine-member agency administratively attached to the Department of Commerce and Insurance, 1created "for the purpose of assisting emergency communications district ("ECD") boards of directors in the area of management, operations, and accountability, and establishing emergency communications for all citizens of the state."2The Board is funded through a monthly 911 surcharge of $1.16 on the sales price for a retail sale of communications service or prepaid communications service.3

By statute, the Board exercises financial and operational oversight over the state's 100 ECDs which are the statutorily created municipalities that administer or facilitate local E-911 call taking and/or dispatching services across the state. 4The Board establishes technical, operational and dispatcher training standards, and administers grants and reimbursem*nt programs which distribute funds to ECDs. 5It also provides advisory technical assistance to ECDs upon request. 6Its enabling legislation authorizes the Board to provide supervision and evaluation to ECDs that meet the statutory criteria for financial distress. 7In addition, the Board may review decisions of the boards of directors of ECDs upon request by city or county governing bodies. 8To assist in fulfilling its statutory mandate to establish a statewide emergency communications system, the Board may provide reimbursem*nt to wireless carriers and others to cover "expenditures to implement, maintain, operate or enhance statewide wireless enhanced 911 service."9The Board currently administers such a reimbursem*nt program for commercial mobile radio service providers ("wireless carriers") and others.

The Board works on many fronts to facilitate the technical, financial and operational advancement of the state's ECDs. A major focus has been to implement and maintain wireless Enhanced 911 ("E-911") for the state, as set forth by the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") in orders and regulations it has issued on 911-related matters since 1994. Tennessee was the third state in the nation to fully deploy the equipment and technology needed to automatically locate 911 calls from properly equipped cellphones and has received national recognition for its leadership in 911 related matters.

1. See Tenn. Code Ann. 7-86-302, 7-86-303(c) (The Board is funded by a service charge on users and subscribers of non-wireline service). Four of the nine Board members are appointed by the Governor for fixed terms– three of which must be either current director of an emergency communications district or a current member of an emergency communications district boards of directors (one from each grand division of the state), and the fourth is a public member with no connection to emergency communications districts. The speaker of the senate appoints two members – one which must be a representative of county government and the other must be either a current director of an emergency communications district or a current member of an emergency communications district board of directors. The speaker of the house of representatives also appoints two members - one which must be a representative of city government and the other must be either a current director of an emergency communications district or a current member of an emergency communications district board of directors.. The ninth member is the designee of the Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury. The Board is served by a staff of eight.
2. Tenn. Code Ann. 7-86-302(a).
3. Tenn. Code Ann. 7-86-128(a)(1), 7-86-303(d).
4. See Tenn. Code Ann. 7-86-106; Tenn. Code Ann. 7-86-302, 7-86-306.
5. See Tenn. Code Ann. 7-86-205, 7-86-306(a)(9) through (11).
6. Tenn. Code Ann. 7-86-306(a)(7).
7. Tenn. Code Ann. 7-86-304(d).
8. Tenn. Code Ann. 7-86-312.
9. Tenn. Code Ann. 7-86-303(d)(2).

Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (TLETA)- The Jerry F. Agee Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (TLETA) was authorized by the 1963 General Assembly to train state, county, and city law enforcement officers. In the early years, TLETA functioned primarily in a commission capacity. However, since being brought under the Department of Safety on February 15, 1983, the academy has evolved into one of the premier law enforcement training institutions in the United States.

TLETA strives to:

• Provide service to government agencies through police science and administrative education programs for officers at all levels of responsibility;
• Provide timely and relevant information to officers who attend these training programs, which increases their capabilities to better serve their departments and the citizens of the State of Tennessee;
• Be the center of law enforcement training for all law enforcement officers.

Annually, the Training Academy generally trains about half of the new police recruits in the state, provides in-service training, and assists the Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T) Commission in maintaining records for approximately 17,000 certified officers in the state. Specialized school offerings by the Academy in mandated, requested, and emerging subjects provide an opportunity for P.O.S.T. certified officers to receive the required in-service training as well as learn innovative techniques in maintaining law enforcement services. The opening of the TLETA Annex building (pictured below) has enabled the academy to greatly increase its course offerings. TLETA also provides mandated consultative services to local law enforcement agencies and associations. Associations and agencies such as the Tennessee Sheriff's Association, Association of Tennessee Chiefs of Police, and Tennessee District Attorneys benefit from the expertise of the TLETA staff on matters involving emerging law enforcement issues or methods of service.