House to vote on reproductive, transgender care protections this week
Photo | Courtesy of Chris Lisinski, State House News Service
Sen. Cindy Friedman (blue sweater) listens from the audience at a June 3 Judiciary Committee hearing about her reproductive and transgender care shield legislation.
House Democrats are moving toward a vote on legislation that would update the 2022 state law shielding reproductive and transgender care from out-of-state legal action.
One day before the House is scheduled to meet in a formal session, the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday began advancing its redraft of a bill (S 2543) implementing additional protections for providers and patients.
The Senate approved the measure on June 26 with bipartisan support. Backers pitched it as a way to safeguard against threats to abortions, transgender care and other services facing heightened scrutiny.
House Speaker Ron Mariano and top deputies said the bill will get a House vote this week "as the Trump Administration and Republicans across the country continue to target individuals for exercising their right to make their own health care decisions in consultation with their doctor."
"The Shield Act builds on the Commonwealth's proud history of preserving and expanding access to reproductive and gender-affirming care by establishing new safeguards around patient data, and by protecting health care professionals who provide that vital care," Mariano said in a joint statement alongside House Ways and Means Committee Chair Aaron Michlewitz and Judiciary Committee Co-chair Rep. Michael Day. "Above all else, this legislation is representative of the House's commitment to ensuring that Massachusetts remains a place where our residents can make personal health care decisions without fear of prosecution."
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