Yesterday, despite clear public outcry, the Massachusetts House passed the Radical Abortion Expansion Bill, H.5595. The bill removes virtually all remaining restrictions on abortion in Massachusetts. It allows abortion past 24 weeks with no requirement of medical justification, meaning abortions could be performed at full term, just days before natural birth, for any reason or no reason at all. While abortion proponents argue that late-term abortions are rare, expanding this barbaric practice does serious damage to our society’s moral foundation.
Current law only allows abortion after 24 weeks to save the mother’s life, protect her health, or in cases of a lethal fetal diagnosis. H.5595 strips out those standards, allowing abortion based solely on “the professional judgment of the physician,” with no second opinion required. It also eliminates the existing medical review process and the reporting safeguard for late-term procedures. That removes protections meant to catch coercion and abuse, protections that matter most for women in crisis and for young girls least equipped to advocate for themselves.
Protecting unborn life and caring for women are not opposing goals. Real compassion means building up support for mothers, not removing every check on when a life can be ended.
H.5595 was railroaded through the House for a vote with virtually no warning, meaning that pro-life advocates had little time to react. It seems obvious that this lack of transparency on such a controversial bill was by design.
The bill passed with 119 yeas and 33 nays. You can see the full list here. H.5595 drew opposition from members of both parties. Lawmakers across the aisle raised concerns about the complete absence of medical standards and oversight in the bill’s language. That bipartisan resistance reflects how far outside the mainstream this bill’s approach is, even in a heavily pro-abortion legislature.
The fight now moves to the Senate. The same language has already been filed there as S.1563, “An Act prioritizing patient access to care,” now sitting with the Senate Ways and Means Committee. If it clears that committee, it could reach the Senate floor for a full vote. The language is identical to what just passed the House: no medical criteria, no independent review, full-term abortion on demand.
Bipartisan opposition in the House proves this bill doesn’t have to be inevitable in the Senate. We urge you to take action now and tell your senator to vote NO on S1563 should it come to a vote. Every call and message matters.
Take it a step further: Call the Senate Ways and Means Committee at (617) 722-1481 and urge every member to keep this bill from moving forward.
Whether this bill passes or fails, it is critical for those of us who stand for life to make our voices heard – we cannot back down in the face of these unethical attacks. Would you join us in taking action today?
