Senator Jeff Wentworth, chairman of the Senate Jurisprudence Committee, addressed the TBB Board during its September 16 meeting. AGC contractors and chapter executives from around the state gathered in San Antonio to discuss state-wide political issues. Senator Wentworth has been a strong supporter of contractors and worked with TBB staff this past legislative session in order to pass

HB 2039. HB 2039 by Nixon/Wentworth was a major achievement for TBB this session. Contractors were being denied their rights to have a judicial ruling based on their written contract with a local government. Two state district courts of appeals ruled that local governments had sovereign immunity and therefore a written contract with a local governmental entity could not be enforced. One case had already been heard by the Texas Supreme Court and others were waiting to be heard. TBB AGC hired a former supreme court judge to draft legislation and testify in support of HB 2039. Joe Nixon, Chairman of the House Civil Practices Committee, introduced and guided the bill through the house. Senator Jeff Wentworth worked with AGC to move the bill through the senate process and on to the governor's desk where it was signed. The bill became effective September 1, 2005.