Politics & Government
Sen. Lewis, Sen. Jehlen, Rep. Ciccolo, & MA Legislature Act to Keep Government Out of Doctor’s Appointments
Legislature expands reproductive healthcare access to ensure patients and professionals have more control over personal health.
BOSTON—State Senators Jason Lewis and Pat Jehlen and State Representative Michelle Ciccolo joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature to expand reproductive healthcare for Massachusetts residents and ensure that healthcare professionals and patients have more control over personal health by removing legal restrictions on abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
According to Reproductive Equity Now, under current law, dozens of Massachusetts patients each year are forced to leave the state to access abortion care after 24 weeks, even in cases involving devastating diagnoses or risks to the patient’s life.
The decision to terminate a pregnancy is often in response to a medical emergency or a diagnosis incompatible with life. This legislation ensures that the decision to have an abortion later in pregnancy remains between a patient and their healthcare providers, without interference from the government.
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“When a family learns the devastating news late in pregnancy that they won’t be able to deliver a healthy baby into the world, they shouldn’t be forced to travel to another state to safely end the pregnancy,” said Senator Jason Lewis. “This legislation expands reproductive healthcare in the commonwealth and puts the advice of healthcare providers above the will of politicians.”
“Ensuring the choice to receive an abortion is a decision left between a patient and their health care provider is critical,” said Senator Patricia Jehlen. “This legislation helps us better protect the health and safety of our residents during some of their hardest moments by making care available and accessible. I am so glad we were able to pass this bill through the legislature.”
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“Medical decisions should be the purview of a doctor and their patient, without government interference,” said Representative Michelle Ciccolo. “This bill ensures that no patient needs to travel to receive necessary care due to fear of prosecution.”
After passing in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, Governor Maura Healey signed the bill into law on August 10, 2026.
