Massachusetts House Bill H4443

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 8/21/25
• Refer: 8/21/25
• Refer: 5/20/26

Caption

Relative to the maximum age requirement for original appointment to the position of firefighter or police officer

Summary

This bill is a local act for the city of Haverhill that changes the age limit for original appointment to the positions of firefighter or police officer. It provides that, notwithstanding the general civil service law and any other conflicting law, a person is not eligible to have their name certified for original appointment if they have reached their 40th birthday on the date of the entrance examination. The bill applies only to competitive examinations administered on or after the effective date, and it takes effect immediately upon passage. In practical terms, it authorizes Haverhill to enforce a specific maximum age rule for these public safety hiring processes, rather than relying solely on the statewide default rules.

Impact

The bill creates a city-specific exception to chapter 31, section 58A of the General Laws and any other inconsistent general or special law, but only for Haverhill. It affects applicants for firefighter and police officer positions by setting a clear age cutoff tied to the date of the entrance exam, and it governs only future competitive exams after enactment.

Sentiment

There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so the bill’s sentiment cannot be measured from debate or roll call. Based on the text alone, the measure appears administrative and targeted, with no evident opposition or support documented in the available record.

Contention

The main legal issue is the deviation from the statewide civil service framework: the bill overrides general law to let Haverhill impose a stricter maximum age requirement for police and firefighter appointments. Potential contention would likely center on fairness, equal access to public safety jobs, and whether a local age restriction is appropriate or necessary, but no specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided materials.