Maine's legislative body has finalized a bill broadening access to later-term abortions, forwarding it to the governor's desk for approval. The move is poised to significantly alter the state's abortion landscape, potentially establishing some of the nation's least restrictive abortion regulations.

Upon receiving Democratic Governor Janet Mills' anticipated signature, the bill will permit abortions at any point in pregnancy if deemed medically necessary by a physician. This represents a change from the current law, which prohibits abortions after fetal viability (around 24 weeks) except when the mother's life is in danger.

The bill's passage through the Democrat-controlled Senate wasn't without contention. Despite holding the majority, legislators engaged in passionate debate, reflecting the strong feelings surrounding the issue. Opponents voiced concerns about the extent of the expansion and the level of authority granted to doctors in determining the appropriateness of the procedure. Conversely, supporters emphasized the bill's focus on providing care in rare and tragic situations where the fetus is non-viable.

Senator Eric Brakey, a Republican, questioned the absence of a requirement for a formal fatal diagnosis by doctors and expressed apprehension about potential misuse of the bill's provisions. Democratic Senator Anne Carney countered that the bill prioritizes compassionate and medically sound care for women and families facing heartbreaking circumstances.

With the potential enactment of this law, Maine would join a small group of states—Alaska, Colorado, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, D.C.—that grant doctors and patients significant autonomy in abortion decisions, without gestational limits. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that late-term abortions (after 21 weeks) are uncommon, representing approximately 1% of procedures nationwide.

Governor Mills, who previously expressed satisfaction with Maine's existing abortion law, has shifted her stance. This change followed the publicized case of a Maine resident who traveled to Colorado for an abortion after learning at 32 weeks that her fetus would not survive. The governor subsequently collaborated with legislative leaders to introduce this bill expanding abortion access.