Massachusetts Senate Unanimously Passes Parentage Act

Historic Bill Awaits Final Enactment Before Heading to Governor

The Massachusetts Senate today voted unanimously to pass An act to ensure legal parentage equality, pi byen koni kòm la Lwa sou Parante Massachusetts la, a historic piece of legislation that will protect LGBTQ+ families, and children born through surrogacy and assisted reproduction, in forming the legal bond of a parent-child relationship. The bill now awaits final enactment before it heads to Governor Maura Healey’s desk for her signature. Governor Healey has stated strong support for the legislation.

“Today, Massachusetts took a major step forward in ensuring that all families are treated equally under our laws,” said Polly Crozier, Director of Family Advocacy at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders. “We are grateful to the many people, families, and advocates who have fought for years to get to this point. We thank the Senate leadership, Senate Sponsors Senators Julian Cyr and Bruce Tarr, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Jamie Eldridge and the many Senators on both sides of the aisle who voted unanimously to pass the MPA today. With this vote the Massachusetts Senate demonstrated that fairness under the law is for everyone. We look forward to seeing the Massachusetts Parentage Act enacted and signed into law soon.”

The Massachusetts Parentage Act updates Massachusetts statutes to clarify who can be a parent and how to establish parentage. This bill is critical to ensuring that all children can access the security of legal parentage, regardless of the circumstances of their birth, including through assisted reproduction and surrogacy.

Currently, Massachusetts is the only state in New England without comprehensive statutory protections on parentage. 

The bill’s bipartisan sponsors include Democrat Senator Julian Cyr, Republican Senator Bruce Tarr, Democrat Representative Sarah Peake, Republican Representative Hannah Kane, and Democratic Representative Kay Khan. 

The Massachusetts Parentage Act is supported by a coalition of over 60 organizations: 

AllPaths Family Building, Akademi Ameriken pou Avoka Adopsyon ak Repwodiksyon Asiste, Kolèj Ameriken pou Obstetrisyen ak Jinekològ, Massachusetts, ACLU nan Massachusetts, Sosyete Ameriken pou Medsin Repwodiktif, Asosyasyon Tribinal Fanmi ak Konsilyasyon - Chapit MA, BAGLY, Baystate Health, Klinik Fètilite Boston IVF, Sant Medikal Boston, Cape Cod Healthcare, Inc., Sant pou Dwa Repwodiktif, Sant Lwa Timoun nan MA, Lig Timoun nan Massachusetts, Circle Surrogacy & Egg Donation, Sitwayen pou Jistis Jivenil, COLAGE, Komite pou Sèvis Konsèy Piblik, Conceiveabilities, Csed Inc. (Sant pou Surrogacy ak Donasyon Ze), Fondasyon Eastern Bank, Egalite Fanmi, Fenway Health, Fertility Within Reach, Zanmi Timoun yo, Defansè ak Defansè Legal GLBTQ (GLAD), Greater Boston Family Law Inn of Courts, Greater Boston PFLAG, Kanpay Dwa Moun, Alyans Jwif pou Lwa ak Aksyon Sosyal, Kauffman Law and Mediation, Keshet, Mass General Brigham, Mass NOW, Fon Mass PPD, Defansè Massachusetts pou Timoun, Chapit Massachusetts nan Akademi Ameriken pou Pedyatri, Komisyon Massachusetts sou Jèn LGBTQ, Komisyon Massachusetts sou Sitiyasyon Fanm, Asosyasyon Avoka LGBTQ Massachusetts, Gwoup Politik LGBTQ Massachusetts, Sosyete Medikal Massachusetts, Sosyete Massachusetts pou Prevansyon Krim sou Timoun, Chanm Komès LGBT Massachusetts, Kowalisyon Politik Trans Massachusetts, MassEquality, Komite Konseye Legal Sante Mantal, Lwa Fanmi Modèn, Bruce Hale, Esq., Pwojè Avansman Mouvman, Asosyasyon Nasyonal Travayè Sosyal–Chapit MA, Sant Nasyonal pou Dwa Lesbyèn, Sosyete Fètilite Nouvèl Angletè, Matènite Sou Plas Nouvèl Angletè, Nichols, Delisle & Lightholder, OUT MetroWest, Lig Planifikasyon Familial Massachusetts, Massachusetts Pwogresif, Ekite Repwodiktif Kounye a, RESOLVE: Asosyasyon Nasyonal Enfètilite a, Roxbury Youth Works, SeedTrust, SEIU 509, Transhealth, Fondasyon Boston, UMass Memorial Health, ak Enstiti Williams sou Oryantasyon Seksyèl ak Lwa Idantite Sèks ak Politik Piblik.

Learn more about the Massachusetts Parentage Act