Latest news with #BrentHoward
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce shuts down due to financial challenges, changes post-COVID
The Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce shut down operations in August, after nearly six decades, due to financial challenges and changes post-COVID, according to the CEO and president of the group. Active members were referred to nearby organizations, including the Greater Baltimore Chamber of Commerce. The organization had been supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs since it opened in 1966. According to President and CEO Brent Howard, the chamber faced challenges as businesses moved toward virtual and digital marketing and networking services following the COVID-19 pandemic. "The organization, in terms of how it was structured, wasn't viable in the same way post-COVID in how members are interacting and what their needs are," President and CEO Brent Howard said in a statement. Howard said memberships declined from more than 400 people in the 2010s to less than 200 in recent years. Some major companies, including Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE), McCormick & Co., and T. Rowe Price Group, were among the chamber's members, according to Howard. Headquartered in Towson, the organization provided networking opportunities and resources for business owners with the goal of fostering diverse and sustainable businesses. "Baltimore County is not lacking for leadership at this particular level. When we fall off, it's not like no one else is there," Howard said. According to Howard, current chamber members can move to other local organizations, including the Towson Chamber of Commerce, the Hunt Valley Business Forum, the Chesapeake Gateway Chamber, and the Catonsville Chamber of Commerce. The Greater Baltimore Chamber of Commerce has already made plans to welcome Baltimore County members and has been identified as a popular landing spot for many of the members, Howard said. The Greater Baltimore Chamber has more than 300 members and covers Owings Mills, Reisterstown and Northwest Baltimore. The organization rebranded from the Pikesville Chamber in 2021.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislature signs off on creation of Oklahoma business courts
Sen. Brent Howard, R-Altus, presents a bill in the Senate on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – The Legislature on Wednesday advanced a measure to Gov. Kevin Stitt to create the state's first business court system. Senate Bill 632 would create a business court in Tulsa and one in Oklahoma City. The specialized courts would only hear business-related disputes that involve at least $500,000. Proponents argue the courts are designed to attract economic growth and investment by making outcomes more efficient and predictable and less costly. In other states, they've also helped reduce the backlog of civil cases. Over two dozen other states already have adopted similar models. The selection process for Oklahoma's judges would be outside the parameters of the Judicial Nominating Commission, which interviews candidates for judicial vacancies and submits three names to the governor. Senate confirmation is not required. Under the measure, the Oklahoma House Speaker would submit three candidates to the governor for consideration. The governor would choose a judge from among those selections. The governor's selection appointment would be subject to Senate confirmation. The business court judge would serve for eight years and be subject to reappointment, according to the measure. To be eligible, a person must be at least 35 years old, a U.S. citizen and a licensed attorney in good standing with 10 or more years experience in certain areas, including complex business litigation, business transaction law, and as a judge or clerk in an Oklahoma court with civil jurisdiction. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, asked if the state was growing government. Sen. Brent Howard, R-Altus, said the state is adding two new judges, at least two new law clerk positions and two new bailiff posts. 'Yes,' Howard said. 'It's growing positions within government.' Howard said creation of the new system will have a fiscal impact of about $2 million. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 39-7 and the House by a vote of 77-12. Stitt has supported creating the specialized courts that deal with commercial legal issues, arguing that business disputes and complicated contracts must be resolved by judges with business expertise. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers take another crack at tort reform after Oklahoma Supreme Court rebuke
Sen. Brent Howard, R-Altus, listens to a question during the Oklahoma Senate session on Monda. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma senators on Monday pressed forward with another attempt to cap how much plaintiffs can claim for pain and suffering despite concerns that the state's high court has already found a similar effort unconstitutional. Senate Bill 1065 seeks to limit the noneconomic damages that a plaintiff can be awarded at $500,000. Noneconomic damages are those that are not easily quantifiable for injured Oklahomans, including pain and suffering, emotional distress and the costs associated with loss of life enjoyment. Sen. Brent Howard, R-Altus, said his measure is part of a broader effort to look at tort reform statewide and give guidance to the courts so it can be 'applied more equally across the board.' The state does not currently have a cap for noneconomic damages. The Oklahoma Supreme Court in 2019 struck down a law that capped the amount awarded at $350,000. The court found that the 2011 law limiting noneconomic damages is unconstitutional because it treats those who are injured differently from those who die. Howard said he's optimistic that the Oklahoma Supreme Court will look more favorably on this latest effort in part because the makeup of the Court is different and three of the justices still serving found the 2011 law constitutional except for one provision. Eight states, including Colorado and California, have similar laws capping damages, and 26 have caps on medical malpractice claims, he said. Howard's bill includes exceptions for gross negligence, willful disregard for others and intentional malice. It also does not cap economic damages like quantifiable medical expenses, lost wages and property damage. He said capping the damages eliminates 'potential, unlimited (financial) exposure' for defendants who are sued. But Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, who voted against the bill, said it raises questions about what a life is worth. 'We say that a life has no cost, no way that we can talk about what it's worth,' she said. 'But here we're talking about near death. We're talking about potentially permanent disability, and we're talking about potentially reckless business practices or reckless decisionmaking. This change would limit justice for Oklahoma families.' Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City, who also voted against the legislation, said one of her constituents, a 6-year-old girl, was mauled by a 100-pound Rottweiler. The girl survived, but nearly all of her damages fall into the noneconomic category because she will have major scarring across her face for the rest of her life, she said. 'If there was a cap on noneconomic damages like this one being pursued now, it would have been difficult for any attorney to accept her as a client or litigate a case on her behalf due to how the cap would have imposed a low limit on how much a jury can award, regardless of the violent attack she suffered and all of the permanent side effects it will have on her,' she said. Hicks said keeping such lawsuits from being filed is the true goal of such caps. 'Why would any legislators support a cap on valid and warranted damages for the benefit of such a landlord and an insurance company that never offered a fair amount to resolve the client's case?' she said. The bill passed 37-8, along party lines. It heads to the House for consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
