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