While the majority of members in the MA legislature support access to sexual and reproductive health services, the anti-choice community has been empowered by small political victories, including the loss of pro-choice seats in the legislature. In the 2010 election, the MA legislature lost 15 pro-choice seats, and an additional 2 were lost in special elections held in 2011. That means the Massachusetts State Legislature’s pro-choice majority hangs on by just one seat. We must be vigilant in our advocacy against the anti-choice legislation that would endanger women’s health, deny women their rights to determine whether and when to have children, and restrict their ability to seek appropriate and necessary medical care.  In concert with our legislative advocacy, we also work with pro-choice activists and supporters to help elect new pro-choice legislators to the State House.

State Legislation We Support:

In order to protect women’s health, PPAF supports legislation that increases women’s access to reproductive health care in Massachusetts.

• An Act Updating the Laws to Protect Women’s Health (HB515)
  
  
• An Act Relative to Consent and Counseling (HB629)
  
  
• An Act Relative to Safe Pregnancies and Related Health Care for Female Inmates (HB2234)
  
  
• An Act Relative to Healthy Youth (HB1063/SB190)

State Legislation We Oppose:

• An Act Relative to Banning Partial Birth Abortions (HB1333)

• An Act Relative to Unborn Children (HB3295)

• An Act Relative to Sex Selection in Pregnancy (HB484)

• An Act Relative to a Woman’s Right to Know (HB482)