Overview
- The Massachusetts Senate adopted H.5595 on Friday and sent the bill to Gov. Maura Healey for her signature or veto.
- The bill would eliminate the statute’s specific exceptions after 24 weeks and replace them with a rule allowing abortions after 24 weeks based on a physician’s professional judgment.
- Supporters say the change targets rare, complex cases and would prevent patients from being turned away or forced to travel out of state for care.
- Opponents argue the measure removes safeguards, could allow abortions very late in pregnancy including near birth, and criticized lawmakers for fast‑tracking the bill through the legislature.
- Gov. Healey has not publicly weighed in and a signature would extend Massachusetts’ post‑Dobbs protections in line with several other Democratic states while raising questions about interstate care and legal friction.