Bill
SD 2575
The bill expands abortion access by allowing broader minor self-consent, modernizing consent forms with stronger privacy, and simplifying pre-procedure consent requirements.
Title: An Act to eliminate barriers and expand abortion access
Status and timeline
- Status: House concurred (House action on the Senate-passed version)
- Introduced: February 27, 2025
- Legislative actions:
- Referred to the Committee on Public Health (2025-02-27)
- House concurred (2025-02-27)
Purpose and intent
- The bill aims to remove barriers to abortion access and expand access to abortion-related care in Massachusetts. It modernizes consent procedures, strengthens privacy protections for consent records, and expands who may consent to medical care, including abortion, for minors.
Key provisions and changes
1) Definitions (new or clarifying terms)
- Abortion-related care: a medically appropriate service complementary to performing an abortion.
- Provider: a licensed health care professional who may lawfully perform an abortion or provide abortion-related care.
- Provider facility: a structure where a provider performs abortions or related care.
2) Informed consent requirements (replacing existing section 12R)
- Abortion requires written informed consent from the patient seeking the abortion.
- The Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Health must prescribe a standard consent form.
- The patient must sign the consent form in advance of the scheduled abortion, except in emergencies requiring immediate action.
- There is no mandatory waiting period between signing and the abortion.
- The signed consent form must be kept in the provider’s files and destroyed seven years after the abortion.
- Consent forms and related documents are confidential and may only be released with the patient’s written consent or a proper judicial order, or to the patient, the performing clinician, and certain others connected to the consent process or applicable law.
3) Minor consent expansion (Section 12F)
- Amends the language to state that any minor may give consent to their medical care, including abortion, or dental care (i.e., expands the scope of minor self-consent to abortion care).
4) Minor consent language cleanup (Section 12F, paragraph 3)
- Replaces or removes the term “abortion or” to align with the updated consent framework (specific textual adjustment described in the bill).
Who is affected
- Patients seeking abortions (and their care providers)
- Minors seeking abortion-related care (expanded self-consent rights)
- Health care professionals and facilities that provide abortion-related care
- Public Health Department, which would implement the required consent form
Implementation considerations
- The bill requires the Department of Public Health to issue a standardized consent form.
- Confidentiality protections are strengthened for consent documents and related records.
- The bill does not specify an effective date within the text provided; implementation would follow enactment and standard rulemaking processes.
Notes
- The legislation explicitly provides no waiting period between signing the consent and receiving an abortion (except in emergencies).
- The policy shifts toward broader minor self-consent for medical care, including abortion, and tighter privacy safeguards around consent records.
This summary reflects the substantive provisions and potential impact based on the bill text provided.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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