Massachusetts no longer has laws on the books than ban abortion and contraceptives, part of the state government's efforts to guarantee access to abortion in the Trump era.
Governor Charlie Baker signed a law removing several outdated laws Friday morning, some dating back to 1845, that had been ruled unconstitutional but never taken off the state's official rolls.
The nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court has officials in Massachusetts moving to affirm the right to abortion services in the state.
"This fight goes way beyond Roe. This is a battle for the very heart and soul of our country and the result is nothing less than whether or not women will be second class citizens for generations to come," NARAL's Rebecca Hart Holder said at the bill signing ceremony. Holder's group, along with Planned Parenthood and other abortion access activists, pushed Democrats to pass the bill after it became clear that President Trump's Supreme Court nominee pick could vote to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
Democrats, along with pro-choice Republican Baker, say removing the archaic laws will prevent court challenges should Roe be overturned.
"And now with this new Supreme Court vacancy Roe and women's constitutional right to access abortion is facing a dire emergency and this is not a drill, the lawsuits necessary to overturn Roe are working their way through the courts right now," Holder said.
Senate President Emerita Senator Harriette Chandler, who was president when the bill was passed, told those gathered at the State House for the bill signing that states, not the federal government, are where important policy changes are happening.
"We have some uncomfortable, somewhat embarrassing situations occurring at the federal level, but here, now, we are seeing changes, important changes that need to be made and they're being made by the states," Chandler said.
The state's highest court has ruled that abortion access is protected by the state's constitution, but advocates successfully lobbied Beacon Hill to get rid of the old laws to prevent any potential court challenges against abortion providers.
