Greenville Chamber releases 2026 Public Policy Agenda
December 16, 2025
The Greenville Chamber released its 2026 Public Policy Agenda on Friday, December 12th at the Annual Legislative Breakfast. The agenda outlines the priorities of the Greenville business community for Greenville County and the State of South Carolina.
According to Greenville Chamber President/CEO, Carlos Phillips, “The Greenville Chamber’s 2026 Public Policy Agenda reflects our continued commitment to advancing bold, practical policies that drive shared economic prosperity.”
The Greenville Chamber’s 2026 agenda prioritizes forward-looking, balanced solutions that strengthen South Carolina’s economic competitiveness and enhance quality of life for current and future residents.
Key statewide priorities include strengthening workforce participation by expanding access to affordable dependent care; improving transportation infrastructure; encouraging responsible growth through smart planning and targeted investment; expanding access to affordable housing; and improving the state’s insurance climate through predictable and fair legal frameworks.
The Greenville Chamber will also continue to advocate for its core policy pillars, including tort reform, protecting the rights of private businesses, securing reliable tourism funding, advancing sustainable land use, promoting equitable and competitive tax policies, and expanding licensing access for individuals with valid work authorization.
Locally, the Chamber remains focused on preparing Greenville for continued population growth by supporting affordable housing initiatives, encouraging incentives for mixed-use and commercial development, and advancing zoning updates that promote responsible, future-focused growth.
The agenda reflects the shared priorities of thousands of founders, entrepreneurs, and employers throughout Greenville County and across the Upstate, developed in partnership with 13 regional chamber partners through the Upstate Chamber Coalition. The agenda-setting process included a fall survey, industry roundtables, and collaboration with chambers and business organizations across the region.
The Annual Legislative Breakfast is the Greenville Chamber’s premier legislative event, attended by more than 250 business and political leaders.
The Greenville Chamber also recognized legislators whose voting record reflected alignment with Greenville Chamber policy positions. “2025 Business Guardians,” defined as voting for Greenville Chamber agenda items (when voting) at 100% included Senators Thomas Alexander, Tom Corbin, Jason Elliott, Mike Gambrell, Billy Garrett, Josh Kimbrell, Ross Turner and Danny Verdin, as well as Representatives Neal Collins and Scott Montgomery.
During the event, the Greenville Chamber emphasized the importance of pairing private-sector leadership with effective public policy and reaffirmed its commitment to convening corporate partners, universities, and nonprofit organizations to address Greenville’s most pressing needs. The Chamber also reiterated its focus on accelerating economic mobility by supporting measures that ensure all people and businesses have opportunities to achieve economic prosperity.
To view the full 2026 Public Policy Agenda and Advocacy Guide, visit www.greenvillechamber.org/policyagenda.
ABOUT THE GREENVILLE CHAMBER
The Greenville Chamber, now in its 136th year of operation, is the largest business organization in Upstate South Carolina with more than 1400 Investors supporting the vision of a globally competitive Upstate economy where businesses succeed and people prosper. For information, visit greenvillechamber.org.
