Sen. Cynthia Creem Votes To Expand Reproductive Rights

NEWTON, MA — On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem, who represents Newton and Brookline, voted with the Massachusetts State Senate to pass S.2996, Expanding Protections for Reproductive Rights.

The bill aims to protect providers, residents, and women crossing state lines to receive reproductive health care in Massachusetts to the maximum extent possible and codify access to reproductive and gender-affirming health care services as a right secured by the constitution and laws of Massachusetts.

Many of the bill's provisions were passed by the Senate earlier this year as a fiscal year 2023 budget amendment co-sponsored by Creem.

“In the post-Roe era, we are already seeing anti-choice activists in states, like Texas, exploring ways to control lawful healthcare activity across state borders,” Creem said in a statement. "It is important that we take these efforts seriously and take action to prevent out-of-state interference with lawful healthcare activity in our state. I am both proud and grateful to represent and live in a state that is responding to this crisis decisively by taking action to protect our providers and those seeking reproductive care in the Commonwealth.”

Two notable amendments cosponsored by Senator Creem that were adopted in the final bill would respectfully require public universities to provide access to abortion medication and clarify the language for abortions after 24 weeks for the medical community to ensure women are not inappropriately referred out-of-state for abortions that should be covered under current state law.

The Senate also announced the creation of a Working Group to study rights under federal attack and examine state legislative responses to recent Supreme Court decisions. This Working Group will take a deeper look at fundamental reproductive and substantive rights and further examine guidance on late-term abortions and data privacy in relation to reproductive care.

The House and Senate must now reconcile any differences between their respective versions of the bill.