The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts bill allows taxpayers to divert tax liability away from abortion services into newborn safety program
Last action · March 16, 2026: Accompanied a study order, see H5238Sponsors: Joe McKenna and 2 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Taxpayers in Massachusetts would receive the option on their income tax returns to direct that no portion of their tax liability be used for abortion services, with those funds instead deposited into a special account for the public information program.
The measure establishes a mechanism for taxpayers to alter how a calculated portion of their state tax liability is allocated between the General Fund and a designated public awareness campaign based on prior-year spending proportions.
- The Baby Safe Haven Law (Section 39-½ of Chapter 119) allows parents to surrender newborn infants safely without facing criminal prosecution. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Taxpayers
Taxpayers receive the option to elect whether a portion of their income tax liability funds abortion services or the Baby Safe Haven Law program.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a taxpayer opt out of funding abortion services under this bill?
Where do the redirected tax funds go?
How is the diverted tax amount calculated?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
6 actions- Mar 16, 2026HouseAccompanied a study order, see H5238
- Dec 18, 2025HouseReporting date extended to Friday, February 20, 2026
- Sep 16, 2025JointHearing rescheduled to 09/16/2025 from 10:30 AM-12:30 PM in A-1 and Virtual<br> <span style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">Hearing updated to New End Time</span>
- Sep 5, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 09/16/2025 from 10:30 AM-01:00 PM in A-1
- Feb 27, 2025SenateSenate concurred
- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to the committee on Revenue
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Accompanied a Study Order
According to legislative progress notes, this bill accompanied a study order (H5238), indicating it was referred for further study rather than advancing directly.
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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