S.B. No. 2406
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the authority of hospitals in certain counties to drill
  a water well for the purpose of producing water for use in the event
  of an emergency or natural disaster.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 311, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 311.005 to read as follows:
         Sec. 311.005.  WATER WELLS FOR USE BY HOSPITALS IN CERTAIN
  COUNTIES IN EVENT OF EMERGENCY OR NATURAL DISASTER. (a) This
  section applies only to a hospital located in a county that:
               (1)  has a population of more than 250,000; and
               (2)  borders the Neches River.
         (b)  A hospital to which this section applies may drill a
  water well on property owned by the hospital for the purpose of
  producing water to supplement the hospital's water supply in the
  event that an emergency or natural disaster prevents the hospital
  from receiving water from the hospital's usual source.
         (c)  This section does not affect the authority of a
  groundwater conservation district to regulate groundwater
  production under Chapter 36, Water Code, or other law governing a
  groundwater conservation district.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2406 passed the Senate on
  April 20, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2406 passed the House on
  May 24, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 117, Nays 21,
  one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor