AU Government Relations team engages in the 2025 legislative session

The 2025 Georgia General Assembly convened this week beginning the state’s annual legislative session, and the Office of Government Relations at Augusta University anticipates a productive legislative session.

The Government Relations team remains steadfast in representing the collective voice of Augusta University. Throughout the year, the team builds and maintains strategic relationships with government stakeholders and is committed to monitoring and analyzing legislation and policy that affect AU’s academic, research and health care missions.

During the session, the state government relations team will track all activities and legislation affecting the university, providing updates along the way via the Capitol Connection newsletter.

The team is always advocating for policies and funding initiatives essential to the university’s mission, but among the primary objectives this session is securing support for a new Translational Research Building, a vital project that will enhance the research capabilities and expand Augusta University’s impact across Georgia.

“While this is a large project and a significant but positive change in our campus, it is part of a multi-phased approach to expand research,” said Margie Miller, vice president of Government Relations at Augusta University. “The new research building will provide 150,000 square feet of space to create a physical environment that is centralized, advanced, flexible and conducive to collaborative discovery, particularly fostering clinical and translational research.”

Augusta University will be better positioned to secure competitive research grants and funding from government agencies, foundations and private organizations, which will enable the university’s researchers to pursue more ambitious projects, tackle pressing societal challenges and engage in clinical and translational investigation, Miller said.

A new research building will also address the current limitations and deficiencies of the university’s existing infrastructure. It will provide modern laboratory spaces, advanced equipment and updated technology infrastructure that meet the evolving needs of researchers, ensuring they have the necessary tools to conduct their work effectively, said Ashton Blackwood, the director of State Government Relations for Augusta University.

“When you talk about the growth of the Medical College of Georgia, research is the pinnacle of that growth,” Blackwood said. “Research is how we keep addressing the next generation of health care needs throughout the state of Georgia.”

On top of providing state-of-the-art facilities and resources to foster innovation and scientific discovery at Augusta University, the proposed research building would also help attract and retain top talent, facilitate groundbreaking research and position our region and state as a hub for cutting-edge knowledge, Miller said.

“We will always be a good steward of the state’s money,” Miller said, recalling a recent comment from University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue. “The way the chancellor compared it to football recruitment is this: How are you going to recruit the best researchers? How are you going to grow the next workforce if you don’t have the facilities that you need? We need a new research building.”

As the 2025 Georgia General Assembly convenes, there are 22 new members of the General Assembly, and three are from the Augusta area: State Reps. Rob Clifton, Gary Richardson and L.C. Myles Jr.

In addition, the 119th Congress has been sworn in, and preparations are underway for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration later this month. These events present significant opportunities to advance Augusta University’s strategic priorities at both the state and federal levels.

Government Relations serves as the liaison between Augusta University, the community and officials at the local, state and federal levels and welcomes comments from the public.

For weekly updates on all legislative news, Government Relations invites those interested to subscribe to the Capitol Connection, an online newsletter that provides a legislative recap, budget updates and other details about the week at the Georgia Statehouse.

Headed up by Miller, the Government Relations team includes Director of Federal Government Relations Monty Philpot Brock, Blackwood and Assistant Director of State Government Relations Luke Ray.