Legislative Agenda

Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce & Visit Savannah 2024 Legislative Overview

Over 150 members of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce make up our Governmental Affairs Council. The council, facilitated by a Chairman, meets at least three times a year, as necessary, to review local, state and federal issues. When creating policy, or legislative agendas, the council makes its recommendations to the Chamber’s Executive Committee and then these matters go to the Chamber’s Board of Directors for consideration. In instances where decisions are time sensitive and will affect the membership, the Executive Committee makes decisions on behalf of the Chamber Board. Along with the Chamber’s director of governmental affairs, engaged members help advocate for the Chamber’s priorities to become enacted.

2024 Specific Legislative Priorities:

• Support changes to the civil justice system, which will reduce lawsuit abuse, thereby reducing insurance, freight, and raw material costs.
• Continue to support efforts to increase tourism marketing funding for Georgia as a global visitor destination.
• Support a workforce development pilot project to create Goodwill Excel Center schools for persons over 21 to obtain a high school diploma.
• Support the Board of Regents and Savannah State University’s Capital Outlay Request to improve HVAC systems in several instructional and support facilities.
• Support the Board of Regents and Savannah State University’s request to pay off bonds associated with Savannah State University Student Center and the Stadium Public Private Venture project.
• Support the Board of Regents and Georgia Southern’s request to renovate the Parker College of Business on the Statesboro campus. This initiative aims to modernize infrastructure, optimize space usage, foster collaborative learning, and establish a financial service-learning lab.
• Support an allocation from the Georgia Transit Trust Fund for Chatham Area Transits EV transit fleet charging infrastructure.
• Support legislative revisions needed to enable CAT commuter express service on interstate shoulder lanes in our region to serve the new Hyundai META plant.
• Support legislation establishing Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) programs in Georgia to incentivize energy efficiency and conservation improvements in new construction and renovation projects by making low-interest rate financing available.
• Continue to support funding for the redesign and construction of the I-95 Airport Interchange (Exit 104).
• Support continued state, local and federal funding partnership for scheduled periodic beach and dune renourishment for Tybee Island that will be needed in the coming years.
• Support policies that ease military family relocation into the state and communities, including promoting licensure portability and occupational licensing reform for military spouses.

2024 Key Pro-Business Policies & Positions

• Support policies that bolster the full workforce talent pipeline in partnering with K-12 education, technical colleges, colleges and universities, and the business community.
• Preserve tax policies and tax incentives, specifically the Film and R&D tax incentives, that continue to make Georgia the best state in the country to do business.
• Continue to support the recommendations of the Joint Study Committee on Airport Infrastructure and Improvements to create a sustainable state funding source for Georgia’s commercial service and general aviation airports and support increased capital funding that includes additional significant air cargo handling improvements for the Savannah Airport as identified in the GA DOT’s Air Cargo Study.
• Support ongoing investments in the Port of Savannah and local freight and commuter transportation infrastructure.
• Seek state approval from the State of Georgia for a new capitated health care initiative: “Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly” (PACE) program. The proposed would provide all-inclusive care for individuals receiving Medicare and Medicaid, with Savannah being considered for the pilot program.
• Support funding and policies that will enhance healthcare in our region. These include improvements to access, workforce, education, and mental health. Positive initiatives in healthcare will assist in continued economic development in our region.
• Seek support for a request by the Savannah Waterfront Community Improvement District and the City of Savannah to amend the statute surrounding the creation and governance of Community Improvement Districts (CID) to clarify ambiguous language without structurally changing the function or authority of CIDs.
• Support initiatives and programs such as Certified & Registered Apprenticeships, Dual Enrollment, Georgia College & Career Academies, and other efforts that prepare students for future careers and train a skilled workforce for the region’s current and future employers.
• Support funding and initiatives that improve access, availability, and quality of early childhood and Pre-K education throughout our community.
• Support initiatives that ensure the security and stability of current and future defense operations in the state including all military installations, training centers and other entities supporting defense communities statewide while expanding this essential economic driver.