How I Voted S.2543/H.4271

S.2543/H.4271—An Act strengthening healthcare protections in the Commonwealth

On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the House of Representatives passed S.2543, An Act strengthening healthcare protections in the Commonwealth, by a bipartisan majority (136 YAY, 23 NAY). I voted YES.

In anticipation of future federal or other state actions that may conflict with or threaten existing Massachusetts protected reproductive and gender affirming rights, the Senate initiated this bill to ensure those rights remain protected in the Commonwealth. The House, with certain amendments, passed this bill with bipartisan support.

“This legislation sends a clear message: Massachusetts will not be intimidated by efforts outside our borders to undermine the rights and privacy of our residents,” said State Representative Mark D. Sylvia (D-Fairhaven). “We’re not only safeguarding access to care, but also standing up for our doctors, nurses, and health care professionals who deliver it with compassion and professionalism every day. I was proud to vote yes.”

Among the actions this bill takes include:

This legislation clarifies protections for both patients and healthcare providers in the face of a growing wave of attacks from other states on protected health care activities in Massachusetts. The bill clarifies data protections, codifies the provision of emergency services for individuals, and provides Massachusetts courts and agencies with the tools required to protect both patients and practitioners engaging in reproductive and gender affirming healthcare services. Several states have recently passed laws restricting reproductive health care and access to gender affirming health care in their own boundaries while, at the same time, attempting to prosecute individuals who seek those personal health care services in Massachusetts.

Building on protections first enshrined into law in 2022, this legislation prohibits state agencies,employees and law enforcement from cooperating with other states or federal investigations into reproductive or gender affirming health care that is legally protected in Massachusetts. The bill similarly restricts businesses that manage electronic health records from sharing patient data connected to these services.

The bill makes clear that health care professionals are free to provide legal health care services in Massachusetts, and the Commonwealth will resist attempts by other states or the federal government to prosecute health care professionals for providing those services.

Additionally, the bill:

● Exempts the personally identifying information of patients and providers regarding reproductive and gender affirming health care from the public records law.

● Requires hospitals to provide stabilizing health care services to patients presenting with emergency medical conditions.

● Empowers the Department of Public Health to remove drugs prescribed in connection with reproductive or gender affirming health care from the prescription monitoring program (PMP) and prohibits the Department from sharing PMP information sought by other states in connection with legally protected health care activities in the Commonwealth.

● Prohibits the state’s Center for Health Information and Analysis and the Health Connector from providing information to other entities, states, or the federal government regarding legally protected health care activities in Massachusetts, and forbids entities working with these agencies from using data collected to target patients or providers.

● Protects attorneys licensed in Massachusetts from removal or discipline for advising or representing clients on the topics of reproductive or transgender health care services.

● Forbids insurance companies from discriminating against or penalizing nonprofits who offer reproductive and gender affirming health care services.

● Prohibits courts from using the laws of other states prohibiting gender affirming care as grounds to alter custody or visitation rights for children in Massachusetts.

● Clarifies that Boards of Registration may not take disciplinary actions against practitioners for providing legally protected health care services, and prohibits boards from noting in a provider’s records any criminal, legal or disciplinary actions brought against them in other jurisdictions for providing health care services that are legally protected in the Commonwealth.

Helpful link related to this topic:

https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2025-07-16/mass-house-votes-to-expand-safeguards-for-abortion-gender-affirming-care