Overview
- Governor Maura Healey signed the Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act on Monday, removing the state's 24-week statutory limit and replacing it with a standard that lets physicians use their professional judgment for later-term procedures.
- The law becomes effective Nov. 8 and formally aligns Massachusetts with other jurisdictions that have no gestational age limit for abortion.
- The bill split Democrats in the state House, with nine Democrats joining Republicans in opposing the measure and several dissenting lawmakers raising ethical and legal concerns about late-term care.
- CatholicVote and other faith-based critics have urged the state bishops to consider excommunication for Healey after a public signing ceremony, while the Massachusetts bishops called the measure 'gravely immoral' but have not announced canonical penalties.
- Coverage highlights limited public data on very late abortions and says supporters view the change as preventing burdensome out‑of‑state travel for complex cases, while opponents demand clearer reporting and warn the law will shape political messaging and elections.