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Bill

H 2800

An Act enhancing public safety in the town of Stoneham

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Day and 1 co-sponsor

Stoneham may waive the maximum age for original police officer appointments, widening the applicant pool while requiring all other hiring criteria be met.

Signed by the Governor, Chapter 94 of the Acts of 2026
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Bill Summary · H 2800

Summary of House Bill H.2800: An Act enhancing public safety in the town of Stoneham

What the bill does (main purpose)

  • The bill would authorize the Town of Stoneham Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for original appointment of police officers in Stoneham.
  • Candidates must still meet all other job requirements established by the Stoneham Police Department for original appointment.

Key provisions

  • Section 1: Permits a waiver of the maximum age for original appointment of police officers in Stoneham, provided candidates satisfy all other hiring requirements set by the Stoneham Police Department. This applies notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary.
  • Section 2: Sets that the act’s provisions take effect immediately upon passage.

Who is affected

  • Primary: The Town of Stoneham and its Police Department, which would gain the authority to waive age limits for police officer applicants.
  • Prospective officer-candidates: Would benefit from the potential ability to apply or be hired at older ages, assuming they meet all other departmental criteria.
  • Other state and local actors: The change is local to Stoneham and does not specify broader state-wide implications, though it interacts with applicable state hiring laws.

Procedural and timeline details

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025.
  • Filed as House Docket No. 3347 (House No. 2800).
  • Referred to the Joint Committee on Public Service on February 27, 2025.
  • Status: Local approval noted as received; hearing scheduled for April 14, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM in room A-1.
  • Legislative actions noted: Senate concurred (reflected in the bill’s cross-chamber status) and related to similar prior legislation (HD 3347 replaces, with a related matter previously filed as House No. 4678 in 2023-2024).

Related context

  • The bill is a local option measure designed to address recruiting needs by expanding the applicant pool beyond a specified maximum age.
  • Similar or predecessor proposals exist (e.g., House No. 4678 in the 2023-2024 session), and the current measure updates or restates those efforts.

Summary of potential impact

  • Potentially expands the pool of eligible police officer applicants in Stoneham by removing the upper age limit, while maintaining all other qualifications.
  • Could affect recruitment timelines and staffing capacity for the Stoneham Police Department.
  • Immediate effectiveness upon passage means the policy could be in place as soon as the bill becomes law.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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