Massachusetts lawmakers are moving quickly to pass legislation that would expand abortion access up to 24 weeks, aiming to clear it before the legislative session ends on Friday.
The Prioritizing Patients' Access to Care Act passed the House 119‑33 and now heads to the Senate. The bill would eliminate the current requirement that abortions after 24 weeks be limited to four specific circumstances.
Under the proposal, licensed physicians could determine the appropriateness of a post‑24‑week abortion based on medical judgment, and third‑party reviewers would no longer be able to overturn those decisions.
The measure mirrors a 2023 law in a neighboring state that also allows late‑term abortions based on physician discretion.
Proponents argue that medical decisions should rest with the patient and doctor, noting that the state’s health system is among the nation’s strongest and that current statutory exceptions are too narrow for complex cases.
They cite instances where patients traveled out of state for care because existing exceptions did not cover severe fetal complications, emphasizing the need for flexibility in clinical judgment.
Opponents contend that Massachusetts already permits abortions up to 24 weeks with broad health and fetal anomaly exceptions, and that the bill would remove safeguards by allowing abortions throughout the second and third trimesters without additional criteria.
Critics also argue that the legislation was rushed, bypassing the usual Senate committee process to meet the session deadline, raising concerns about transparency and deliberation.
Republican legislators expressed surprise at the bill’s timing and content, questioning whether it would permit terminations of viable fetuses absent extenuating circumstances.
The governor has made expanding reproductive access a priority and has taken steps to protect providers and patients, but has not publicly commented on the specific bill.
The debate highlights a broader national trend of states adjusting abortion policies after the 2022 Supreme Court decision, with Massachusetts positioned to become one of the least restrictive jurisdictions for later‑term abortions if the bill becomes law.
