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Healey Signs Bill Ending Abortion Gestational Limits

8/12/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Governor Maura Healey (D-Mass.) signed House Bill 5595, ending gestational limits on abortion.
The House approved the bill 119-33 on July 22.
The Senate passed the bill on July 31.
The law will take effect 90 days after Healey’s signature.
Pro-life leaders, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marjorie Dannenfelser of Pro-Life America, and activist Carol Tobias, condemned the law as horrific, barbaric, and a removal of safeguards for unborn children.

History

Historical Context

Roe v. Wade (1973) established a constitutional right to abortion, a rule the Supreme Court overturned in Dobbs (2022), prompting states such as Texas and Alabama to impose bans. In response, liberal states expanded protections; New York’s 2021 Reproductive Health Act removed gestational limits, and Massachusetts enacted House Bill 5595 in July 2024 under Governor Maura Healey, illustrating the nation’s split.

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Story summary

Governor Maura Healey (D-Mass.) signed House Bill 5595, ending gestational limits on abortion.
The House approved the bill 119-33 on July 22.
The Senate passed the bill on July 31.
The law will take effect 90 days after Healey’s signature.
Pro-life leaders, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marjorie Dannenfelser of Pro-Life America, and activist Carol Tobias, condemned the law as horrific, barbaric, and a removal of safeguards for unborn children.

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