It Passed - 119-33 Vote - Conservatives and President Donald Trump Are Beyond Furious After Legislature in Mass.
Massachusetts lawmakers have approved legislation that would make one of the most significant changes to the state’s abortion laws since the fall of Roe v. Wade, paving the way for another high-profile battle over abortion policy in the United States.
The proposal has already drawn strong reactions from both abortion-rights advocates and pro-life organizations, each arguing the measure will have far-reaching consequences.
The legislation now awaits the signature of Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, who has consistently supported expanding abortion protections during her time in office.
If signed into law, supporters say it will remove barriers to medically necessary care, while opponents argue it will dramatically expand access to abortion late in pregnancy.
The Massachusetts Senate approved legislation Friday that would change the legal standard for abortions performed after 24 weeks of pregnancy by giving physicians broader discretion to determine when such procedures are appropriate.
Under current Massachusetts law, abortion is generally legal through the first 24 weeks of pregnancy.
After that point, abortions are permitted only if a physician determines they are necessary to preserve the life or physical or mental health of the mother, or if there is a lethal fetal anomaly or a diagnosis indicating the fetus is unlikely to survive outside the womb.
The legislation approved by the Senate would remove those specific statutory conditions and instead allow abortions after 24 weeks “based on the professional judgment of the physician.”
Supporters of the bill argue the change is intended to ensure women experiencing serious pregnancy complications are not denied care because hospitals or physicians fear violating the current law.
State Rep. Christine Barber said some patients have already encountered that problem under the existing legal framework.
Barber cited one case in which a fetus suffered a stroke and was not expected to survive, but she said the patient was nevertheless turned away by hospitals because of uncertainty surrounding the law.
Supporters contend the legislation would provide physicians with greater flexibility to respond to complex medical situations without being limited by a list of specific statutory criteria.
Opponents, however, argue the measure removes important legal safeguards and could permit abortions much later in pregnancy than current law allows.
Myrna Maloney Flynn, president of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, criticized the legislation, saying it places greater emphasis on access than on patient safety.
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“While this legislation prioritizes access, it does not prioritize a woman’s safety,” Flynn said in a video urging lawmakers to reject the proposal.
Other national pro-life organizations also condemned the bill after its passage.
Kelsey Pritchard, communications director for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, told The Center Square that the legislation would legalize “abortion on demand until birth, paid for by taxpayers.”
Pritchard also argued that the proposal would place Massachusetts among a small number of states and jurisdictions that allow abortion throughout pregnancy under broad legal standards.
Abortion-rights supporters dispute that characterization, arguing that the legislation continues to require a physician’s professional medical judgment rather than allowing unrestricted abortions for any reason.
The proposal comes as states continue moving in sharply different directions following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
Since that ruling, numerous Republican-led states have enacted broad abortion bans or strict limitations, while several Democratic-controlled states have expanded legal protections for abortion providers and patients.
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Massachusetts has already enacted some of the nation’s strongest legal protections for abortion providers, including shield laws intended to protect physicians who prescribe abortion medication through telehealth to patients living in states where abortion is restricted.
Those protections have become the subject of ongoing legal disputes involving officials in states with stricter abortion laws, Center Square reported.
If Gov. Healey signs the legislation, Massachusetts will once again expand its abortion laws, adding another chapter to the continuing national debate over abortion policy as lawmakers, advocacy groups and courts across the country remain divided over where legal limits should be drawn.
Popular GOP Senator Cruises to Victory in Tennessee Primary
President Donald Trump’s endorsed slate powered through Tennessee’s Republican primaries Tuesday, delivering decisive wins that underscored the president’s enduring grip on the GOP.
The primary wins also position conservatives for a strong push to reclaim the governor’s mansion and hold key congressional seats in the November midterms.
Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty secured an uncontested victory in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate on Thursday night, advancing effortlessly to the November general election as a steadfast champion of conservative values and President Trump’s agenda.
With no challengers on the ballot, Hagerty, the incumbent first elected in 2020, was declared the nominee shortly after polls closed at 7 p.m. Central Time.
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The outcome was never in doubt in the deep-red Volunteer State, where Republicans dominate statewide races.
Hagerty now prepares to face the Democratic nominee in November, with analysts rating the seat as safely Republican.
Hagerty’s path cleared months ago when no Republican opponents filed, reflecting broad party unity behind the senator who has consistently delivered for Tennessee while advancing Trump’s priorities on border security, economic growth, and national strength.
President Trump offered his full-throated endorsement earlier, declaring: “Senator Bill Hagerty has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! He has been with us from the very beginning, helping us MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. In the Senate, Bill is working hard to Revitalize our Economy, Lower Taxes, Secure the Border, Champion our Incredible Military/Vets, Restore American Energy DOMINANCE, Protect our always under siege Second Amendment, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee praised Hagerty as “a warrior for America First,” stating that “Re-electing Bill is job #1 to get our country back on track.”
Fellow Sen. Marsha Blackburn, herself seeking the governorship, called Hagerty “a conservative warrior for Tennessee values” and affirmed, “Bill Hagerty is a conservative warrior for Tennessee values, and that’s what he’ll continue to do. I’ll work tirelessly to support his re-election.”
Concrete results have marked Hagerty’s first term.
As a former U.S. Ambassador to Japan under President Trump, he strengthened the critical U.S.-Japan alliance, advanced the Indo-Pacific strategy, and helped secure a trade deal that boosted American farmers and manufacturers while drawing record Japanese investment and jobs to the United States.
Earlier, as Tennessee’s commissioner of Economic and Community Development, he drove record job growth and earned the state back-to-back “State of the Year for Economic Development” awards.
In the Senate, Hagerty serves on the powerful Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Foreign Relations; Appropriations; and Rules committees.
He authored the GENIUS Act, the first major federal cryptocurrency law establishing a regulatory framework for stablecoins, which President Trump signed into law in 2025.
The legislation positions America as a leader in digital assets and counters threats from Communist China.
Hagerty has fought tirelessly for border security, deportations of illegal immigrants, energy dominance, and protecting the Second Amendment, while cutting wasteful spending and supporting law enforcement.
His offices have helped thousands of Tennesseans resolve veterans’ claims, IRS issues, and other casework.
Looking ahead, Hagerty has made clear his plans center on fully implementing President Trump’s America First vision.
He has repeatedly stressed the need to keep the southern border secure, deport illegal immigrants who threaten public safety, and prioritize American citizens.
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In recent statements, Hagerty emphasized continuing the fight against wasteful spending, advancing energy independence, countering China’s aggressive influence, and ensuring peace through strength abroad—including strong support for finishing critical missions against adversaries.
“I’m running for reelection to keep our border secure, deport illegal immigrants, and always put the safety of the American people first,” Hagerty has said on the campaign trail.
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