The Gwinnett Chamber convened nearly 200 business leaders for its annual On Topic Legislative Update, presented by Porter Steel. The breakfast offered a timely look at the issues shaping Georgia’s 2026 legislative session and election-year landscape.
The program opened with a policy-focused panel featuring Paul Oh, Vice President of Public Policy & External Affairs for the Gwinnett Chamber; Dave Williams, Chief Policy Officer at the Metro Atlanta Chamber; and Sky Park, Director of Legal Affairs for the Metro Atlanta Chamber. Panelists reflected on last year’s legislative session, noting that defending Georgia’s tort reform measures remained a top priority — an effort seen as essential to maintaining a stable, pro-business legal climate while helping curb insurance costs.
As an election year unfolds, speakers outlined leadership transitions at the Capitol, including new majority leadership roles and expanded influence for the Gwinnett delegation.
Senator Shawn Still now serves as Senate Majority Caucus Chair, together with Senator Clint Dixon who serves as Senate Majority Caucus Vice Chair. Representative Soo Hong serves as House Majority Caucus Vice Chair, while Senator Nikki Merritt has taken on the role of Vice Chair of Finance for the Democratic Caucus. Infrastructure and affordability also emerged as dominant themes; no surprise there.
Governor Brian Kemp’s proposed budget includes $1.8 billion over 10 years for improvements along I-75 South in Henry and Clayton counties, as well as $200 million dedicated to completing safety upgrades along Highway 316 — a critical corridor running through Gwinnett. On the affordability front, income and property taxes, housing availability, and a reasonable cost of living and doing business in Georgia are all paramount to the state’s continued growth.
The program culminated in an update from Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor, Burt Jones, who is also running for Governor this year. A fellow businessman and native Georgian, Jones’s passion for the state’s future and growth trajectory resonated as he emphasized the importance of education and workforce development, as well as the need for government to operate with a business-minded approach. With Governor Kemp entering his final year in office, Jones underscored a continued focus on economic development, infrastructure, and cultivating skilled talent locally — priorities aimed at ensuring Georgia remains the nation’s top state for business. To learn more about the Gwinnett Chamber’s legislative priorities, visit our Public Policy page.
