Massachusetts House Passes Bill to Remove 24‑Week Abortion Limit

The Massachusetts House of Representatives approved bill H.5595 on July 22, voting 119‑33 to eliminate the state’s 24‑week gestational limit on abortions. The legislation would replace existing exceptions with language allowing a physician to perform an abortion based on professional judgment, without requiring a medical review. The bill now moves to the state Senate for further consideration.

Supporters argue the change is needed for women facing complex medical situations that currently force them to travel out of state. Representative Christine Barber cited a 2022 case in which a woman traveled to Maryland for a 33‑week procedure after the fetal brain suffered a hemorrhage, incurring about $10,000 in costs. Major health systems—including Mass General Brigham, UMass Memorial Health and Tufts Medicine—back the proposal.

Opponents, such as Massachusetts Citizens for Life president Myrna Maloney Flynn, warn the bill would permit “the murder of a baby up to the point of birth” and increase taxpayer‑funded late‑term procedures. Representative Michael Day said, “We’ve decided to get away from all the exceptions and trust our medical professionals…”. The measure has ignited a broader debate over abortion policy in the state and nationally.