Overview
- Gov. Maura Healey signed H.5595 on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, eliminating the state's statutory 24‑week cutoff and replacing narrow exceptions with a standard that defers to a physician's professional judgment.
- The law also drops several reporting and facility rules that hospital systems said created legal uncertainty and barriers to care for patients with late, devastating pregnancy diagnoses.
- Supporters and a patient who traveled out of state for care said the change will let more people receive time‑sensitive treatment in Massachusetts instead of facing costly travel and delay.
- Opponents, including GOP lawmakers and anti‑abortion groups, argue the measure effectively allows abortion through late pregnancy and have vowed political opposition ahead of the 2026 elections.
- Massachusetts joins a small group of states that have removed gestational limits, public health data show late abortions are rare, and the law could shift patient flows, clinical practice and campaign messaging in the months ahead.