Massachusetts removes the six-month abortion limit

Massachusetts Democratic Governor Maura Healey has signed a new law removing the state’s 24-week gestational limit on abortion, significantly expanding access to abortions later in pregnancy. According to Fox News, Massachusetts becomes the 10th U.S. state to remove gestational age limits on abortion.

The legislation, known as the Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act, gives healthcare professionals greater discretion when deciding whether an abortion should be performed later in pregnancy, without exposing them to the legal penalties that existed under the previous restrictions.

Healey said the law is intended to ensure that women and families facing serious medical complications late in pregnancy can access abortion in Massachusetts rather than having to travel to another state. The situations cited include complications affecting the mother’s health and diagnoses involving fatal fetal conditions.

During the signing ceremony, Healey defended the legislation by arguing that healthcare decisions should be made by women, families and their doctors rather than politicians. She also pledged that abortion would remain “safe, legal and accessible” in Massachusetts for as long as she remains governor.

The previous 24-week limit

The new law is scheduled to take effect 90 days after it was signed. Under the previous rules, Massachusetts generally prohibited abortions after 24 weeks, although exceptions existed in certain circumstances. The new legislation removes that general gestational-age restriction and gives physicians greater discretion in cases occurring later in pregnancy.

Massachusetts now joins Alaska, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia, among jurisdictions that have removed general gestational age limits on abortion, according to Fox News.

Healey has also presented the legislation as a safeguard against potential federal efforts to restrict abortion access following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

La gobernadora de Massachusetts, Maura Healey, promulga una ley que elimina el límite general de 24 semanas para el aborto en el estado. pic.twitter.com/hvhgMfBGYA

— Wall Street Wolverine (@wallstwolverine) August 11, 2026

The governor said states should take the lead on abortion policy and pledged that Massachusetts would continue providing access regardless of future actions by President Donald Trump, Republicans in Congress or the Supreme Court.

Strong opposition from pro-life groups

The legislation has drawn strong criticism from organizations opposed to abortion. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA Pro-Life America, condemned the law and argued that removing gestational limits could increase the number of abortions performed later in pregnancy.

Dannenfelser also called on Republicans to move beyond a state-by-state approach and pursue federal protections for unborn children. 

In Massachusetts, women and their families shouldn't have to cross state lines for abortion care doctors can provide in our state.

Today, I signed a law so they won't have to. 

Real freedom means health care decisions belong to women and their doctors. Not their government. pic.twitter.com/QrIrBYcD4x

— Governor Maura Healey (@MassGovernor) August 10, 2026

SBA Pro-Life America further argues that the United States is among a small group of countries where abortion can be legally performed at any point during pregnancy under certain circumstances. Fox News cited the organization as identifying Australia, Canada, China, Guinea-Bissau, Mexico, South Korea and Vietnam among the other countries it says permit such procedures.

The Massachusetts law therefore adds another front to the continuing political battle over abortion in the United States, with Democratic-led states seeking to expand protections and conservative groups pushing for tighter limits at the federal level.