WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SD 1875

An Act designating October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Paul Feeney and 2 co-sponsors

Massachusetts designates October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, with the Governor issuing an annual proclamation to raise awareness of pregnancy loss and its toll.

House concurred
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SD 1875

Summary: SD 1875 — An Act designating October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day

Overview

  • Title: An Act designating October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day
  • Bill Number: Senate Docket No. 1875 (Senate version); House status shows concurrence
  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Current Status: House concurred (clarifying that the House supported or agreed to the Senate-passed version)
  • Legislative history note: Similar matter previously filed in a prior session (Senate No. 2005 of 2023-2024)

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to designate October 15 each year as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day in Massachusetts. The core aim is to raise public awareness about:
- The prevalence of pregnancy loss
- The physical and mental toll experienced by individuals and families

Key provisions

  • Insertion of a new statutory section (15MMMMMM) into Chapter 6 of the General Laws (as it appears in the 2022 Official Edition).
  • The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day.
  • The proclamation shall recommend observance to increase public awareness of:
    • Pregnancy loss and its prevalence
    • The physical and mental toll on individuals following:
    • A pregnancy loss
    • An unsuccessful intrauterine insemination (IUI) or other assisted reproductive technology procedure
    • A failed adoption arrangement
    • A failed surrogacy arrangement
    • A diagnosis or event that impacts pregnancy or fertility
    • Stillbirth or the death of a newborn
  • The Governor shall further recommend that the day be observed in an appropriate manner by the public.

Who is affected

  • The executive branch (Governor) responsible for issuing the annual proclamation.
  • The general public and communities in Massachusetts as potential observers of the designated day.
  • No specific new duties, penalties, or funding are described in the bill; the observance is ceremonial and educational in nature.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Date specified: October 15 annually (Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day).
  • Procedural steps noted in the bill’s passage: referred to a committee (State Administration and Regulatory Oversight), with subsequent action showing House concurrence.
  • The proclamation is an annual duty of the Governor; observance is encouraged but not mandated in detail.

Practical implications

  • Signals a formal statewide acknowledgment of pregnancy and infant loss.
  • Supports public health messaging, awareness campaigns, and resources for affected families.
  • Aligns Massachusetts with broader awareness efforts during Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month observed nationally in October.

If you’d like, I can provide a brief comparison to existing public observance practices or outline potential local activities that communities might implement to align with the bill’s intent.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.