Expanding Abortion Access Throughout Pregnancy
Health care decisions should always stay
between a patient and their doctor — not politicians.
66%
of Massachusetts voters support
broadening access to abortion
by removing restrictions on
abortion after 24 weeks*
*Research conducted by the Reproductive Equity Now Foundation and EMC Research
About the Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act
This legislative session, Massachusetts State Senator Robyn Kennedy and State Reps. Christine Barber and Lindsay Sabadosa introduced the Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act, a bill to expand abortion access after 24 weeks of pregnancy when in the best professional judgement of a licensed physician. The bill is modeled after legislation that passed in Maine in 2023.
This change to Massachusetts law will enable doctors to give their patients the best medical care possible, without government interference.
“After receiving a devastating fetal diagnosis in 2021, I was forced to travel to Maryland for compassionate and costly abortion care. It is heartbreaking and infuriating to know that other families continue to face this same fate because of our state law. As the Trump Administration threatens to criminalize travel and shutter all-trimester clinics, the stakes are infinitely higher and Massachusetts has a moral obligation to lead.”
Download a one-pager on the
Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act
Removing politics from the exam room
At no point in pregnancy is a politician who writes a law more qualified to make decisions about abortion than a patient and their doctor. Health care decisions, including abortion, should be guided by medicine and science, not political opinion or arbitrary statutes.
No patient should have to leave MA for care
Massachusetts statute currently includes an arbitrary 24-week restriction on abortion care—a ban that has no basis in medical science, and does not account for the many complexities of pregnancy. Even with expanded exceptions in the law enacted in 2022, this restriction forces dozens of patients to travel out of state for abortion later in pregnancy every year.
Abortion later in pregnancy is not done for convenience
Abortions later in pregnancy are not done for convenience. These are serious medical procedures, often necessary due to unexpected complications, changing life circumstances, or devastating diagnoses. Expanding access to care throughout pregnancy means that patients and doctors who carefully consider these decisions, can prioritize health, safety, and compassion in the most challenging circumstances.
Expanding access to abortion is popular
Massachusetts residents are demanding that our commonwealth continue to be a beacon for care in a post-Dobbs world, and especially as Trump takes office once again. According to polling conducted by the Reproductive Equity Now Foundation and EMC Research, two in three Massachusetts voters support expanding access to abortion later in pregnancy based on the professional judgment of a physician.
“Massachusetts has a critical role to play as a beacon for reproductive health care in a second Trump Administration. Our commonwealth must be a place where people can seek compassionate, essential abortion care, no matter what point in pregnancy.”
Endorsement Opportunity
We invite organizations to endorse An Act Prioritizing Patient Access to Care (S. 1563, H.2370), a bill that would remove arbitrary barriers to obtaining an abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy when in the best professional judgement of a licensed physician. This bill is a critical step toward ensuring that health care decisions are made by patients and doctors, not politicians.
By endorsing this legislation, your organization will join the effort to expand access to essential reproductive health care in Massachusetts. Endorsers will:
Have your organization’s logo displayed on our website
Receive monthly updates on the bill’s progress
Be provided with resources to help discuss the legislation
Be sent action alerts with toolkits for easy mobilization
As an endorser, we ask that your organization:
Provide your logo for acknowledgment on our website
Identify up to two primary contacts for time-sensitive requests (e.g. comms requests, lobbying needs, etc)
Complete action alerts as requested
Amplify action alerts or other mobilization efforts
Encourage your network to share their personal stories. Here are a few optional ideas for how you can support this effort:
Include a bill-specific call to action for sharing personal stories in at least two communications to your network per year (we’ll provide you with the messaging and the story collection link)
Identify and connect us with at least two individuals within your network who might be willing to share their story (we can follow up with individuals once they’ve confirmed interest and been connected)
Host or co-host a brief informational session about the bill and the impact of personal stories once per year (we can provide a base deck of slides and speaker notes to explain the bill and call to action)
We appreciate your support in helping to make this legislation a reality.
Ready to Take Action?
Here are a few ways you can take action in support of the Prioritizing Patients Act today!
-
Share Your Story
Have you had an abortion later in pregnancy? Would this bill have impacted your experience seeking care? Do you work with patients who this bill would effect?
Share your story with our team about accessing or providing abortion later in pregnancy using the form below!
-
Write to Your Legislators
Writing to your legislators in support of the Prioritizing Patients Act has never been easier!
Using the form below, send an email to your state representative and state senator and ask them to prioritizing this legislation during the 2025-26 bill session.
-
Post to Social Media
Share your support for the Prioritizing Patients Act on social media using our sample posts! Download the social media toolkit below.
-
Write a Letter to the Editor
Writing a letter to the editor is an important way to inform your community of the important issues on Beacon Hill. Download our guide to write a letter to the editor below.
-
Sign up for Abortion Access Advocates
Abortion Access Advocates is our virtual monthly training program to get advocates like you prepared to talk about abortion access in your communities!
Press Coverage of the Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act
