Massachusetts Governor Signs Law Removing Abortion Gestational Limit

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed legislation on August 10, 2026, that removes the state's previous 24-week gestational limit on abortion, making it the tenth state to permit the procedure at any point in pregnancy. The new law, known as the Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act, shifts the criteria for later abortions from a list of specific medical conditions to a standard based on the professional judgment of the physician performing the procedure.

The bill, designated H.5595, was fast-tracked through the legislature in late July. The House of Representatives passed it on July 22 by a vote of 119-33, and the Senate approved it on July 31 with a 15-4 standing vote. The legislation was signed into law on August 10 and is scheduled to take effect in 90 days.

Under the previous Massachusetts statute, abortions were generally permitted up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. After that point, they were allowed only in specific circumstances, such as when the mother's life or health was threatened, or if the fetus had a lethal anomaly or was unlikely to survive outside the uterus. The new law eliminates that framework, allowing abortions after 24 weeks based on a physician's...