AFFIRMING AND SUPPORTING THE REQUIREMENT THAT HOSPITALS PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING EMERGENCY CARE TO PREGNANT PEOPLE, INCLUDING REPRODUCTIVE AND ABORTION SERVICES, WHEN SUCH CARE IS MEDICALLY NECESSARY TO STABILIZE A PATIENT UNDER THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT AND ACTIVE LABOR ACT.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 7) affirms Hawaii's support for hospitals providing emergency medical care - including abortion services - when medically necessary to stabilize pregnant patients under federal law (EMTALA). It directly addresses hospitals in Hawaii, urging all facilities (including religiously affiliated ones) to uphold EMTALA’s requirement to deliver life-saving care for conditions like hemorrhage or ectopic pregnancy. The resolution responds to recent federal policy shifts causing confusion about EMTALA’s application, reinforcing that hospitals must not delay or deny such care. It does not create new legal requirements but formally aligns Hawaii’s healthcare system with existing federal standards.
Bill status
passed both
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 28, 2026
Last action May 12, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
17
Key actions
8
Committee
7
Apr 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Resolution adopted in final form.
upper
Apr 27, 2026
Introduced
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 825).
upper
Apr 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (8) and Representative(s) Kapela excused (1).
lower
Apr 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2248-26), recommending adoption.
lower
Apr 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Hartsfield, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Marten, Olds.
lower
Apr 10, 2026
Committee
Referred to HLT, referral sheet 27
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Introduced
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 439).
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report and Resolution Adopted. Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) DeCorte, Fevella). Transmitted to House.
upper
Apr 8, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3494) with recommendation of adoption.
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HHS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Fevella; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Keohokalole.
upper
Mar 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-30-26 1:07PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to HHS.
upper
Jan 28, 2026
Introduced
Offered.
upper
9 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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