Abortion Access Act

An Act enhancing access to abortion care - H.1599 - S.1114

  • Requires patients to sign informed consent form, with translations available, for any reproductive-care-related procedure

  • Removes mandatory waiting period

  • Bars providers from forcing patients to review ultrasound results and appear at provider facilities any longer or more frequently than is the standard of care

  • Targets Crisis Pregnancy Centers with provisions ending any counseling or information in any form that is “medically inaccurate, medically unnecessary, or misleading”

  • Adds additional provisions to expand inclusion and accessibility in reproductive healthcare

  • Removes age requirement to sign informed consent forms to receive reproductive healthcare

  • Allocates support and unlimited financial assistance to veterans seeking abortion-related care

The ROE Act, passed in December of 2020, codifies the right to abortion into state law, ensuring it will remain legal in Massachusetts. But with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Massachusetts must be prepared to handle the cascading impacts of hostile abortion bans across the nation, go further to remove barriers to abortion that still exist in our state, and ensure meaningful access for anyone who wants it.

Excerpted from Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts’s Legislative Agenda

Though abortion is legal in Massachusetts, it is not without restriction. This bill would further remove medically unnecessary barriers to abortion that often delay and/or stigmatize abortion care including several TRAP policies like unnecessary waiting periods for health-related information, ultrasounds inconsistent with the standard of care and review, and medically unnecessary regulations on facilities. It would also require the Department of Public Health to publicize information on where residents can find legitimate reproductive health care providers and invest in public education efforts to combat mis- and dis-information from anti-abortion organizations targeting pregnant people.

the decision makers

Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Who on committee has co-sponsored:

state senators:

James Eldridgered x
James Eldridge (D)
Acton

chair

Lydia Edwardsred x
Lydia Edwards (D)
Boston

chair

Cynthia Creemred x
Cynthia Creem (D)
Newton
John Velisred x
John Velis (D)
Westfield
Patrick O'Connorred x
Patrick O'Connor (R)
Weymouth
Anne Gobired x
Anne Gobi (D)
Spencer

state representatives:

Michael Dayred x
Michael Day (D)
Stoneham

chair

Christine Barbergreen check
Christine Barber (D)
Somerville

chair

Colleen Garryred x
Colleen Garry (D)
Dracut
Christopher Markeyred x
Christopher Markey (D)
Dartmouth
Brandy Fluker-Oakleyred x
Brandy Fluker-Oakley (D)
Daniel Careyred x
Daniel Carey (D)
Easthampton
Christopher Hendricksred x
Christopher Hendricks (D)
New Bedford
Adam Scanlonred x
Adam Scanlon (D)
Rita Mendesred x
Rita Mendes (D)
Brockton
Peter Durantred x
Peter Durant (R)
Spencer
Alyson Sullivanred x
Alyson Sullivan (R)
Abington

Who has co-sponsored:

History of the bill

2025

Feb 2024

Reporting date extended to Tuesday April 30, 2024

2024

Nov 2023

Hearing scheduled for 11/21/2023

Jan 2023

Bill introduced as H.1599/S.1114

Feb 2023

Referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary

2023

Advocacy Organizations

Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund
Reproductive Equity Now