Georgia State Senator Drew Echols (R-Gainesville) won the 2025 Georgia Chamber Freshman Legislator of the Year award on Monday.
Echols was elected in November of 2024, with his term starting in January of this year.
During that time, he served as floor leader for Governor Brian Kemp. Several pro-business bills Echols sponsored were signed into law including the Top State for Talent Act (House Bill 192).
That bill amended Georgia Code to include references to programs included in the high-demand career list with respect to the State Board of Education’s minimum course of study in career education for students in 6th-12th grades.
“I’m very appreciative and honored to receive this award,” Echols said. “The Georgia Chamber works hard for businesses both large and small across our great state. My intention has always been to keep our families and business community the strongest in the nation.”
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce presented the award. The chamber’s Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Nancy Palmer said the award was well earned.
“The Georgia General Assembly passed a strong slate of pro-business legislation during the 2025 Legislative Session,” Palmer said. “These bills are critical to ensure Georgia remains the number one state in the country to do business, and Senator Drew Echols was instrumental to their passage. Senator Echols’ Freshman Legislator of the Year award was well earned, and we look forward to continuing our strong partnership.”
