Georgia Watch

We’re just a few hours away from the 2026 Consumer Champion Awards!

Before the celebration begins, we want to thank the generous sponsors who helped make tonight possible. Your support strengthens Georgia Watch’s work to protect and inform consumers and advocate for a more equitable Georgia.

We’re grateful to have you standing with us—and we look forward to celebrating with you tonight!

Georgia Civil Justice Foundation | The Linley Jones Firm, PC | Americans for Financial Reform | Education Fund | Center for Responsible Lending | Cannella Snyder LLC | Hilley & Frieder, P.C. | Warshauer Woodward Atkins | The Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority | The Harris Law Firm | AARP Foundation Georgia | Maura Georgia, MD | Georgians for a Healthy Future | GEORGIA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP INC | Speed & King, LLC | Malone Law | Penn Law Group | Benzo Law, LLC

Today is the day!

Tonight, we’ll gather for Georgia Watch’s 2026 Consumer Champion Awards and raise a glass to six outstanding champions:

Senator Chuck Hufstetler — All-Star Consumer Champion
Senator Kay Kirkpatrick — Champion for Healthcare Coverage
Representative Darlene Taylor — Champion for Community Health
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance and Commissioner Oscar "Bo" Fears III — Champion for Financial Protection
Attorney Linley Jones — Champion for Civil Justice
Cassenda Nelson — Champion for Community Advocacy

We’re proud to celebrate their leadership and dedication to protecting consumers, strengthening communities and helping build a more equitable Georgia for all.

We are just one day away from our 2026 Consumer Champion Awards! Tickets are still available. We hope to see you there!

Thursday, October 1, 2026
6:30–8:30 p.m.
Bold Monk Brewing Company in Atlanta, GA

Get tickets here:

2026 Consumer Champion Awards Celebration Join us in celebrating Georgia Watch's 2026 Consumer Champions! Since 2014, Georgia Watch has honored outstanding individuals fighting to protect healthcare access, strengthen financial protection, and advocate for the everyday issues that directly impact the

This Thursday is Georgia Watch’s 2026 Consumer Champion Awards Celebration!

We’re excited to gather at Bold Monk Brewing Co., a warm and eclectic space that brings classic European style into the modern world. With its restaurant, brewery, bookstore, coffee shop, and b**r garden, it’s the perfect place to come together and celebrate this year’s Consumer Champions.

Thursday, October 1, 2026
6:30–8:30 p.m.
Bold Monk Brewing Company, Atlanta

Tickets are still available:

2026 Consumer Champion Awards Celebration Join us in celebrating Georgia Watch's 2026 Consumer Champions! Since 2014, Georgia Watch has honored outstanding individuals fighting to protect healthcare access, strengthen financial protection, and advocate for the everyday issues that directly impact the

We’re just one week away from Georgia Watch’s 2026 Consumer Champion Awards Celebration!

Join us as we celebrate six outstanding leaders working to protect and improve consumers' lives across Georgia.

Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026
Time: 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Location: Bold Monk Brewing Company, Atlanta

There’s still time to get your ticket: https://georgiawatch.org/annual-consumer-champions-awards-2026/

Less than two weeks to go!

On October 1, Georgia Watch will bring together consumer advocates, community leaders, and supporters to celebrate six outstanding Consumer Champions who are helping make Georgia a safer, healthier, and more equitable place for consumers.

Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate their impact and connect with others committed to protecting Georgians.

Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026
Time: 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Location: Bold Monk Brewing Company in Atlanta, GA

Get your tickets today:

2026 Consumer Champion Awards Celebration Join us in celebrating Georgia Watch's 2026 Consumer Champions! Since 2014, Georgia Watch has honored outstanding individuals fighting to protect healthcare access, strengthen financial protection, and advocate for the everyday issues that directly impact the

Today, Georgia Watch Senior Health Policy Analyst Gracie Landram presented at the Georgia Rural Health Association Annual Conference!

Gracie shared how our Georgia Hospital Accountability Scorecard helps hospitals measure and communicate their community benefit, affordability efforts, and commitment to patient care.

Her session highlighted key findings and demonstrated how the Scorecard can strengthen transparency, build trust, and showcase the value hospitals bring to their communities.

Great news for consumers in Georgia and across the country!

Predatory payday lender Enova has withdrawn its application to become a national bank—a major win for consumer protection and the power of collective advocacy.

This outcome would not have been possible without the strong opposition of state and national advocates who spoke out about the risks this application posed to consumers. Here in Georgia, advocates joined together through a statewide sign-on letter urging regulators to reject Enova’s application.

A huge thank you to everyone who signed onto opposition letters, contacted members of Congress, raised awareness, and helped make sure consumer voices were heard.

This is an important reminder: when advocates come together, we can make a difference and protect consumers from predatory lending practices.

Read full letter here:

Broad coalition of Georgia organizations calls on Federal Reserve Board to uphold State lending protections ATLANTA, GA, May 8, 2026 - Today, Georgia Watch and a broad coalition of 15 state-based organizations sent a formal letter to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, urging the Board of Governors to deny the

Looking for funding for your small business? Make sure you understand your options before signing on the dotted line.

Join Georgia Watch and ACE | Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs next week, for a free webinar about safe lending alternatives, small business resources, and the risks of Merchant Cash Advances and other high-cost financing products.

See the attached flyer for event details.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6pM-pc9xSQqJayolo8nEtg

Georgia Watch Executive Director Liz Coyle spoke with Kristi Swartz of the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about Georgia Power’s increased spending to explore potential sites for new nuclear reactors.

Public documents show that Georgia Power spent an average of $87,000 per month over roughly 13 months on studies related to potential new nuclear generation. While the utility says it has no plans to pursue new nuclear development at this time, the spending comes as Georgia Power continues expanding its grid to meet rising electricity demand, much of it driven by data centers.

“The one thing you can’t do with nuclear is build it quickly,” Coyle said. She also noted that pursuing new reactors now does not align with the company’s current timeline for projected data center growth.

Georgia Watch will continue advocating for transparency and accountability in energy decisions that could affect customers and their monthly utility bills.

Read the full story here: https://georgiawatch.org/georgia-power-spends-money-to-study-new-nuclear-reactor-sites/

Georgia Power spends money to study new nuclear reactor sites By Kristi E. Swartz with the AJC Georgia Power has been spending more money to explore potential sites for more nuclear plants, eyeing a previously targeted location in west-central Georgia, public documents show, but company officials remain