The Massachusetts House passed a bill on Wednesday that would prohibit companies from selling cellphone location data collected at reproductive and gender-affirming care clinics. House Speaker Ronald Mariano emphasized the importance of safeguarding individuals’ right to access and provide such care in the state. The legislation aims to prevent the potential targeting and harassment of patients and providers based on this sensitive location data. This move comes in response to reports of using location information to target individuals with anti-abortion ads, prompting concerns about privacy and safety.

Under the proposed legislation, companies would be required to obtain consent from customers before collecting or processing location data from reproductive or gender-affirming care facilities. Limited exceptions would apply, such as in cases of emergency. The state attorney general’s office would be responsible for establishing regulations and enforcing compliance with the new rules. The bill will now move to the Massachusetts Senate for further consideration.

Massachusetts, while affirming the legality of abortion, continues to enhance protections for reproductive rights in light of potential changes at the federal level. Recent legislative efforts have focused on safeguarding access to reproductive health services, ensuring privacy, and expanding contraceptive access. Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian underscored the importance of such measures amid increasing restrictions on abortion and gender-affirming care across many states. The approved bill is seen as a crucial step in upholding these protections in Massachusetts.