Gov. Maura Healey declined to say Thursday whether she would stave off an effort by antiabortion activists to suspend a new law that removes barriers to the procedure after 24 weeks’ gestation.
The Compassionate Care Coalition, led by Massachusetts Citizens for Life and Massachusetts Family Action, filed paperwork last week to suspend the law that Healey signed last month and ultimately repeal it through a question on the 2028 ballot.
Healey has the authority to sign an emergency preamble to make the law take effect immediately — thwarting any suspension attempt. She took that approach to uphold the 2024 gun safety reform law, which is the subject of a repeal measure this November.
But the governor would not disclose her abortion law strategy during a campaign event in Dorchester.
“I’m not going to comment on something that hasn’t happened yet, in the sense that I think they’re still collecting signatures,” Healey told reporters. “So we’ll see what happens.”
Coalition supporters must submit at least 37,289 signatures to local election officials by Oct. 23 to get them certified and make the ballot for 2028. To suspend the law, supporters must amass 49,719 signatures.
The law, which gained unexpected late-session momentum, nixed four criteria from statute that enabled abortions later in pregnancy, particularly for life-threatening situations, and instead gives deference to providers’ medical judgment. In a statement last week, Healey said the law is for “families facing some of the most painful and devastating circumstances imaginable.”
“These situations are incredibly rare, and the decisions should be made between patients, their families, and their doctor — not by politicians and the government,” the governor said.
Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Minogue has described himself as pro-life and says he would uphold reproductive rights laws if elected. On the day Healey signed the law, Minogue said he “would much rather see the people of Massachusetts voice their opinion and decide this — not the politicians.”