Governor Signs Bipartisan Legislation to Improve NC’s Business Climate
Two critical priorities on the 2014 JOBS Agenda were signed by Governor McCrory yesterday after passing the General Assembly strong with bipartisan support. Senate Bill 648: NC Commerce Protection Act of 2014 and Senate Bill 853: Business Court Modernization both include measures to strengthen our business climate and make North Carolina a more attractive place for the best companies, with the best jobs and the best ideas that will build our state’s future. NC Chamber Board Member Chris Smith, partner at Smith Anderson, explained the importance of these pro-jobs measures in a guest column in today’s Triangle Business Journal. SB648 creates transparency in the Attorney General’s office and protects our businesses from patent troll abuse, addressing costly concerns in our civil liability system. SB853 modernizes and enhances the court that handles complex business cases and creates a new holding company statute in North Carolina.

In a letter of support to Gov. McCrory, Jim Whitehurst, president and CEO of Red Hat and NC Chamber chairman, also discussed the importance of strengthening patent protection in North Carolina to protect employers from patent troll abuse. We thank the Governor and the General Assembly for their commitment to strengthening North Carolina’s job creation environment.

Gary J. Salamido
Vice President, Government Affairs
North Carolina Chamber