Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed legislation Monday eliminating the state's previous restrictions on the timing of abortions, allowing the procedure to be performed at any point during pregnancy under state law.

The bill was approved by the Massachusetts Legislature in recent weeks before receiving Healey's signature earlier Monday. The law takes effect immediately, removing the existing gestational limits that had governed when abortions could legally be performed in the state.

The measure comes amid an ongoing national battle over abortion policy following the Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade and returning primary authority over abortion regulation to the states.

Massachusetts now joins a small group of states that do not establish a statutory gestational-age limit on abortion. The change represents a significant expansion of the state's abortion laws and eliminates restrictions that previously applied as pregnancy progressed.

State health officials are expected to issue additional guidance in the coming days regarding implementation of the new law and how medical providers should apply its provisions.

The legislation was passed as states across the country continue to adopt sharply different abortion policies following the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling. Some states have enacted significant restrictions, while others have moved to preserve or expand access to abortion.

No immediate legal challenges to the Massachusetts law had been reported following Healey's signing.