Senate rejects amendment to add a local ‘‘women’s center’’ to DCF working group and passes H.657

The Senate on the floor considered H.657 — an act relating to programming and requirements within the Department for Children and Families — and defeated an amendment that would have added a local ‘‘women’s center’’ to a DCF working group before passing the bill on third reading.

The chamber first agreed to reconsider an earlier floor action and moved back to debate the amendment proposed by Senator Heffernan. The chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee explained the working group’s purpose as reviewing DCF’s pregnancy calendar and assessing ‘‘capacity’’ near the ninth month of pregnancy, saying in part that ‘‘the working group has quite a different perspective and goal’’ and that it includes DCF’s Family Services Division and organizations that work with pregnant individuals. The chair characterized the work as focused on ‘‘what’s legal? What’s ethical?’’ and said the group will help establish guidelines and criteria for DCF.

Opponents questioned whether the suggested local organization had the clinical expertise needed to help set protocols for DCF. A senator who led objections said the organization ‘‘is not a licensed health care provider’’ and ‘‘is an inappropriate member to be on a working group of this kind,’’ arguing the group lacks the training needed to advise on protocols about pregnant people in the department’s oversight.

Senator Heffernan, who offered the amendment, said the nine organizations around the state would ‘‘bring a balanced board’’ and that local centers provide volunteer RNs and PAs and experience supporting people through difficult pregnancy decisions. He described the amendment as a way to ‘‘have voices — regular people’s voices — in a working group that can bring a different perspective.’'

The Senate voted on a motion to recommit H.657 to the Health and Welfare Committee; by roll call the motion failed, 13–17. Later, the chamber held a roll-call vote on the Heffernan amendment; that amendment likewise failed, 13–17. Following the failed amendment, the Senate read H.657 for third reading and, after a voice vote, the presiding officer announced that the ayes had it and the bill passed in concurrence with the amendment actions taken on the floor.

The floor exchanges included repeated questions from senators seeking clarity about which organizations had been consulted, what kinds of services and funding those organizations receive, and whether the working group’s remit concerned prenatal services or the DCF pregnancy calendar and capacity assessments. The chair repeatedly emphasized the group is temporary, focused on policy and protocol for DCF, and not about provision of prenatal medical services.

The next procedural step recorded on the floor was a set of calendar and committee actions: H.952 was returned from the House with a refusal to concur and a committee on conference was appointed; several bills were referred to committees under Rule 31; and the Senate proceeded to consider other bills and concurrence votes.

The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. Friday, 05/15/2026.