The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce led its largest delegation to date of local business and community leaders to the Georgia State Capitol for the annual Albany-Dougherty Day, a signature state legislative event designed to advance the community’s legislative priorities. The two-day program provided participants with key opportunities to engage directly with state leadership and advocate for policies and initiatives that impact business competitiveness in the Albany Area and Southwest Georgia. 

"Albany-Dougherty Day exemplifies our unwavering commitment to fostering strong partnerships and advocating for policies and initiatives that drive economic growth, enhance workforce development and improve the quality of life for our community and region," said Bárbara Rivera Holmes, president & CEO of the Albany Area Chamber, the region’s leading business advocacy organization. "By engaging directly with state leaders and those closest to the point of decision, we ensure that Albany remains at the forefront of legislative progress and economic vitality." 

A significant component of the event focused on the Chamber’s priority of reforming Georgia’s civil litigation climate, a priority shared by employers throughout the state. John King, Georgia’s Commissioner of Insurance and Fire Safety, addressed concerns about rising litigation costs and their impact on businesses, insurance premiums and economic competitiveness during a robust panel that included representatives from the health care, transportation and public sector industries. Tort reform refers to changes in the legal system that aim to reduce excessive lawsuits and limit damages, fostering a more predictable and fair legal environment for businesses and consumers. King emphasized the importance of finding a balance between protecting consumer rights and ensuring that Georgia remains an attractive place for businesses to operate. 

Attendees also engaged in meaningful discussions with members of the Georgia House and Georgia Senate, as well as agency leadership, on key legislative priorities. Topics included military spouse employment legislation, agriculture initiatives, mental health support, school safety measures, the Georgia MATCH program (which connects high school seniors with postsecondary education opportunities), income tax policy changes, healthcare system improvements, economic development efforts and education planning. Lawmakers detailed the expected impacts of these policies and outlined plans for implementation, highlighting how they align with the needs of Albany-Dougherty County and Southwest Georgia. State Sen. Freddie Powell Sims and State Reps. Gerald Greene, Bill Yearta and Mike Mike Cheokas – members of the Albany Area State Legislative Delegation – participated throughout the program. 

"Civil litigation reform is crucial for creating a fair legal environment that reduces excessive lawsuits and lowers costs for businesses and citizens, ensuring Albany remains a vibrant and competitive place to live and work," said Bridges Sinyard, chairman of the Albany Area Chamber’s Government Affairs Division. 

The community delegation further emphasized the importance of securing funding and support for an Albany-based Georgia Veterans Education Career Transition Resource (VECTR) Center, a vital regional initiative aimed at providing military veterans with career training and employment support. The VECTR Center serves as a bridge for service members transitioning into civilian careers, offering educational pathways in high-demand industries and ensuring Georgia remains a leader in veteran workforce development. 

"Veteran and military spouse workforce development is essential to providing these populations with the support and opportunities they need to transition successfully into careers in Georgia,” Holmes said, “thereby strengthening our local economy and bolstering Albany, the home of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, as a leading Military Community of Excellence.” 

In addition to formal legislative meetings, Albany-Dougherty Day featured a legislative reception at the Nathan Deal Judicial Center, during the local leadership delegation networked with state decision-makers including Commissioner King; Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper; Patricia Ross, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Veterans Affairs; and members and committee chairs of the Georgia General Assembly. The reception served as a valuable forum for informal discussions, relationship-building and deeper engagement on key legislative issues. 

A community dinner, hosted by the Albany Area Chamber and the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission, with support from Georgia CEO and The UPS Store, provided additional unique opportunities for local leaders to the build relationships and rapport needed to work together to move Albany and the region forward. 

This annual event, a component of the Albany Area Chamber’s robust government affairs portfolio, will be followed by the Chamber’s Washington, D.C., Fly In in April, during which local leaders will meet with federal legislators and U.S. Marine Corps officials in our nation’s to advocate for national policies that impact the Albany Area economy, workforce and business environment, and that advance Albany as a Military Community of Excellence. 

The Albany Area Chamber’s 2025 government affairs is supported by gold-level investors AB&T; Adams Exterminators; the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission; Albany Area Primary Health Care; Albany Museum of Art; Albany State University; Albany Technical College; Colony Bank; the City of Albany; Commodore Conyers College & Career Academy; Dougherty County; the Dougherty County School System; Georgia Power; Horizons Community Solutions; King Randall Philanthropic; McLendon Acres; Phoebe Putney Health System; Southern AG Carriers; Turner Job Corps. Silver level investors are the Artesian Alliance; AT&T; and Molson Coors, which sponsored the legislative reception; and bronze-level investor Georgia CEO, LRA Constructors and Thrush Aircraft. Representatives from these organizations participated in the two-day event. 

The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce continues to design the path for efforts that strengthen economic vitality, workforce development, and community growth through advocacy, partnerships, and policy engagement. Albany-Dougherty Day remains a powerful platform for advancing the community’s interests and fostering meaningful dialogue with Georgia’s top policymakers. 

For more information on the Chamber’s legislative priorities and advocacy efforts, visit www.albanyga.com.