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Boston's Morning Newsletter
Mass. makes long-awaited moves to update its parentage laws
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
It’s another day of pleasant weather before the heat and humidity set in tomorrow (not to mention the possible heat wave next week).
So, let’s get right to the news:
On Beacon Hill: The Massachusetts House is expected to pass a bipartisan bill today that would update how state law defines parentage for the first time in 40 years. Supporters say the goal is to be more inclusive of non-biological parents, such as same-sex couples and parents who used surrogacy or in-vitro fertilization. “This legislation really has a simple but profound principle — which is the recognition of legal parentage should not be contingent upon outdated norms or narrow definitions,” state Rep. Hannah Kane, a Shrewsbury Republican and lead sponsor of the bill, told WBUR’s Dan Guzman.
- The backstory: Despite being a national leader on LGBTQ+ rights, Massachusetts is the only state in New England without updated parentage laws. Meanwhile, the state has one of the nation’s highest rates of birth through assisted reproduction like IVF. Last year on Radio Boston, state Sen. Julian Cyr — the Truro Democrat behind the Senate’s bill — called it a “glaring liability.”
- What the bill would do: Primarily, the legislation clarifies a number of different pathways to parentage (birth, adoption, assisted reproduction, surrogacy, etc) and sets standards on how to establish each of them. It would also get rid of some gendered and antiquated language in state laws, like “children born out of wedlock.” You can read a full summary of the bill here.
- Why it matters: Current Mass. law often forces non-biological parents to legally adopt their children in order secure full parental rights. (Cyr said his own sister and sister-in-law spent “several thousand dollars” on a lawyer after their child was born.) And legal parentage is important because it helps secure the right to things like providing health insurance, custody and making medical decisions, especially during an emergency. “Much of the concern here is about parentage rights outside of Massachusetts,” Cyr said, referring to court cases in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. But there have also been multiple instances in the Bay State where unmarried, non-biological parents weren’t legally recognized in custody cases.
- What’s next: The Senate still has to vote on the bill before it gets to Gov. Maura Healey, who has already given it a thumbs up. Lawmakers have until the end of July to get it to her desk.
Meanwhile: Top Democrats say they’ve ironed out small differences in the anti-revenge porn bills the House and Senate passed earlier this year. The House is also planning to vote today on the compromise, and the Senate could follow suit Thursday.
- Zoom out: Massachusetts and South Carolina are the only two states in the country without enforceable laws against so-called revenge porn. The new bill would ban spreading nude or semi-nude images of someone without their consent, and prohibit threatening to send out that material as a form of blackmail.
- Go deeper: Some experts argue Massachusetts is making the same mistake as most other states by incorporating “intent” into its definition of revenge porn. Read more in this Cognoscenti essay by professors Jessica Magaldi and Jonathan Sales.
The latest: Steward Health Care has secured financing to help keep its hospitals open, following concerns the company could run out of money this week. WBUR’s Priyanka Dayal McCluskey reports Steward got $225 million from a group of lenders who previously provided money to the company. Steward says the deal will help stabilize the company during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy process.
- What’s next: Steward is seeking to sell its hospitals and physician network through a pair of auctions. The first is scheduled for June 27.
- In related news: Sen. Elizabeth Warren proposed a new Steward-inspired bill yesterday aimed at deterring “corporate greed” in the health care space. The bill includes criminal penalties as tough as six years in jail for executives who put profits above patient care.
Thousands of fans and one GOAT will be at Gillette Stadium tonight, as Tom Brady gets inducted (early) into the Patriots Hall of Fame. The ceremony will feature comedian Bill Burr, “hundreds” of Brady’s former teammates and maybe even Bill Belichick.
- Want to watch? The Patriots will stream the 7 p.m. ceremony here.
P.S.— Juneteenth is a week from today, and CitySpace will be marking the holiday by hosting the Boston stop of the nationally touring game show “Historically Black Phrases Live!” HBP Live! will feature three notable contestants from the Boston area competing in gameplay rooted in trivia about Black culture — and audience members get a chance to play for prizes, too. Get your tickets here.
