H.B. No. 1618
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the number of signatures required on a petition filed in
  connection with an election to create certain hospital districts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 286.021(a) and (b), Health and Safety
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Before a district located wholly in one county may be
  created, the county judge of that county must receive a petition
  signed by the greater of:
               (1)  at least three percent of the registered voters of
  the territory of the proposed district; or
               (2)  100 registered voters of the territory of the
  proposed district.
         (b)  Before a district that contains territory located in
  more than one county may be created, the county judge of each county
  in which the proposed district will be located must receive a
  petition signed by the greater of:
               (1)  at least three percent of the registered voters of
  the territory of the county in which the judge presides and of the
  proposed district; or
               (2)  100 registered voters of the territory of the
  county in which the judge presides and of the proposed district.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a petition filed under Section 286.021, Health and Safety Code,
  on or after the effective date of this Act. A petition filed under
  that section before the effective date of this Act is governed by
  the law in effect on the date the petition was filed, and the former
  law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1618 was passed by the House on April
  30, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 138, Nays 3, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1618 was passed by the Senate on May
  19, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor