Massachusetts.- Gov. Maura Healey signed legislation Monday removing the state’s previous 24-week gestational limit on abortion, expanding access to abortions later in pregnancy.
Healey signed H.5595, the “An Act Prioritizing Patient Access to Care,” on August 10. The law is scheduled to take effect 90 days after signing.
The legislation was approved after lawmakers expedited its passage during the final day of formal legislative sessions. The Massachusetts Senate suspended its rules to allow the bill to advance on an accelerated timeline. The House had passed the legislation largely along party lines one week earlier.
The Senate vote removed the state’s existing 24-week limit and sent the legislation to Healey for consideration. The governor had the authority to sign the bill, veto it or return it with amendments.
Under the new law, health care professionals have greater discretion in determining whether to perform abortions later in pregnancy. The previous restrictions generally prohibited abortions after 24 weeks, with limited exceptions.
“We believe that health care decisions should be made between women and families and their doctors, not politicians,” Healey said during the signing.
Healey also said abortion would remain “safe, legal, and accessible” in Massachusetts during her tenure as governor.
The legislation’s expedited passage came as the Massachusetts Legislature faced continued criticism over transparency and its handling of pending legislation. In 2024, nearly 72% of Massachusetts voters approved Ballot Question 1, which authorized the state auditor to audit the Legislature. Legislative leaders have continued to resist the audit effort.
Nearly 2,000 bills remained pending before lawmakers as the formal legislative session ended, while legislative leaders prioritized advancing the abortion legislation.
Healey described the legislation as a safeguard against potential federal efforts to restrict abortion access following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
“It is up to the states to lead,” Healey said. “And as governor, I promise that no matter what Donald Trump or Republicans in Congress or the Supreme Court does, we’re going to continue to make sure that women and families have access to the health care that they need, right here in Massachusetts.”
Massachusetts Citizens for Life condemned the legislation and referred to it as an “Abortion Up Until Birth Bill.”
“We encourage those celebrating Governor Healey’s politically-motivated signature to learn not only about late-term and ‘dismemberment’ abortions, many of which Massachusetts taxpayers will fund, but also about perinatal hospice, palliative care options and other resources available to women faced with devastating, but never hopeless, fetal diagnoses,” said Myrna Maloney Flynn, president of Massachusetts Citizens for Life.
Flynn said the law is not limited to cases involving severe fetal diagnoses and argued that it could permit elective abortions later in pregnancy.
“Legalizing elective abortion up to birth on healthy mothers and healthy, pain-capable unborn children is not about protecting the doctor-patient relationship,” Flynn said.
Massachusetts Citizens for Life also encouraged women facing late-term abortions to learn about alternatives, including perinatal hospice and palliative care. The organization has established a Late-Term Abortion Hub with information about abortion, support options and alternatives for women facing difficult pregnancies.
The law is expected to take effect in November 2026.
Written by editor Juan Perfetti.
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