July 23, 2026

Abortion expansion bill now in the Massachusetts Senate

REGIONAL
Staff report

SPRINGFIELD – A bill which would expand abortion access in the last trimester is currently being considered by the Massachusetts State Senate. The Senate Ways and Means committee is considering S.1563 which removes the current 24-week limitations on abortion. On Wednesday, July 22, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed the companion bill, H. 5595, An Act Prioritizing Patient Access to Care, by a vote of 119-33.

According to Massachusetts Citizens for Life (MCFL), the legislation would remove the 24-week limit on abortion, allowing procedures later in pregnancy. Currently, the law permits abortion after 24 weeks if a doctor deems it necessary to preserve the life of the mother; if it is necessary to preserve the mother’s physical or mental health; or if there is a fetal anomaly.

The new bill would also remove existing requirements that abortions later in pregnancy be performed in hospitals and by physicians, potentially putting women’s health and safety at risk; replace legal safeguards with vague standards based on subjective personal judgement; and expand abortion access at a stage when unborn children are capable of feeling pain and survive outside of the womb.

“The good intentions of this bill’s sponsors, including Northampton’s Lindsay Sabadosa, are gravely misplaced. As written, their abortion-up-to-birth bill permits one physician to subjectively decide that any unborn infant can be killed in or outside of a hospital, even babies capable of surviving outside the womb and feeling pain within it,” said Myrna Maloney Flynn, the president of MCFL.

“Women experiencing unimaginable, heart wrenching pregnancy complications absolutely deserve all the support they need, but that support is not what this bill provides. Instead, this bill ensures increased abortion industry profits and taxpayer-funded late-term procedures. The legislation promises that an already ominous shadow will grow even darker over the state of Massachusetts,” said Maloney Flynn.

MCFL is urging people to call their state senator to oppose this legislation. This proposal comes at a time when abortion numbers in Massachusetts have doubled. According to Mass.gov statistics, there were 24,355 abortions in the state in 2023. In 2024, the number jumped to 49,450. More than half of those abortions were performed on out of state residents.

Pro-life leaders are asking Catholics to pray and to voice their opposition.

“The legislation before the Senate is very concerning. Massachusetts already has one of the most progressive abortion laws in the country, and this goes even further. This should make everyone squeamish. This is not a partisan issue. This is about human decency. In 2026, we can offer women better choices and as a people of faith, we need to let our representatives know that women deserve better,” said Father Daniel Pacholec the director of the Respect Life Office for the Diocese of Springfield.

“Our pro-life work here in the diocese is centered around walking with women, who find themselves facing an unplanned or crisis pregnancy. We have pregnancy care centers who support women and children: Bethlehem House in Easthampton; Springfield Pregnancy Care; Pregnancy Support Services in Berkshire County; and Branches Family Resource Center in Greenfield. We also have a pro-life medical clinic in Springfield, Clearway Clinic, which exists to walk with moms and welcome their babies. We as a state can do better for families. Please join me in praying for our lawmakers, praying for a change of hearts on abortion, and praying for mothers and their babies,” he said.

More information can be found at masscitizensforlife.org