Massachusetts abortion law repeal effort collects nearly 100,000 signatures

Pro-life advocates in Massachusetts have collected 99,962 certified signatures to place a measure to repeal a recent abortion law on the 2028 ballot. The initiative, known as Repeal188, was launched by the Compassionate Care Coalition to overturn “An Act Prioritizing Patient Access to Care,” a law signed by Governor Maura Healey in August.

The new legislation removed previous restrictions on late-term abortions, shifting the decision to the “professional judgment of the physician.” The repeal effort has received significant backing from Catholic leadership, including Archbishop Richard G. Henning of Boston and Bishops William D. Byrne, Edgar M. da Cunha, and Robert J. McManus.

Other supporting organizations include Massachusetts Family Action, Massachusetts Citizens for Life, and the Massachusetts Family Institute. The signature count of nearly 100,000 far exceeds the 49,716 required to suspend the law via a ballot initiative.