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HD 5711

An Act relative to a certain retirement benefit to be paid to the surviving spouse of fallen officer, Stephen LaPorta, of the police department of the town of Uxbridge

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Joe McKenna and 1 co-sponsor

Massachusetts bill establishes a custom retirement benefit for the surviving spouse of fallen Uxbridge police officer Stephen LaPorta.

Referred to the committee on House Rules
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 5711

Legislative bill overview

HD 5711 is a special legislation bill that would establish a specific retirement benefit for the surviving spouse of Stephen LaPorta, a police officer from the Uxbridge Police Department who was killed in the line of duty. The bill is narrowly tailored to address the financial needs of LaPorta's family following his death.

Why is this important

The death of a police officer in the line of duty creates significant hardship for surviving family members. Special legislation of this type attempts to provide financial security to surviving spouses when standard benefits or existing programs may be inadequate. This reflects broader questions about how municipalities and states should support families of fallen officers.

Potential points of contention

  • Precedent and equity concerns: Special legislation for individual cases raises questions about fairness—why this officer's family receives a custom benefit while others in similar circumstances rely on standard programs. This could create pressure for similar bills for other fallen officers.
  • Fiscal responsibility: The bill's cost and long-term liability are unclear without seeing the specific benefit amount. Questions may arise about whether this should be funded through the town budget, state resources, or specialized funds.
  • Proper legislative process: Some argue individual relief should go through established channels (workers' compensation, existing survivor benefit programs, or charitable/memorial funds) rather than custom legislation, which can become unwieldy if repeated.

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

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