HCR 146 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

URGING THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE OF "EXCITED DELIRIUM", OR SIMILAR PSEUDOSCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS, AS A MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS, CAUSE OF DEATH, OR LEGAL THEORY IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.

This House Concurrent Resolution urges Hawaii state and county officials to stop using "excited delirium" as a medical diagnosis, cause of death, or legal theory. The measure is based on findings that this concept lacks scientific validity, is not recognized by major medical organizations, and has no official diagnostic code. It specifically calls for medical determinations and legal proceedings to rely on scientifically valid principles instead. The resolution also directs copies to county mayors and council leaders and is named in memory of veteran Sheldon Haleck.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Last action Apr 10, 2026

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What changed between versions

HCR146 → HCR146_HD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to shift its primary focus from urging the Legislature to consider legislation to directly urging county mayors and councils to prohibit the use of 'excited delirium' as a medical diagnosis or legal theory. This change expands the bill's immediate scope from a general legislative recommendation to a specific directive targeting local government entities, while also updating the resolution's title to reflect this new focus on counties.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a general recommendation to the State Legislature to a specific directive requiring action from county mayors and councils.

SCOPE

The resolution text was changed from urging the Legislature to prioritize future legislation to directly urging counties to prohibit the use of 'excited delirium'.

REQUIREMENT

New clauses were added to transmit certified copies of the resolution to specific county mayors and council chairpersons.

TECHNICAL

The report title was updated to include 'Counties' to match the new focus of the resolution.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS, JDC.

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 578).

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1888-26), recommending adoption.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem, Sayama, Cochran.

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Committee

Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1596-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Hartsfield, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Committee

Referred to HLT, JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Offered

lower

8 primary · 0 co-sponsors