An Act relative to raising the entrance age of police officers

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Patrick O'Connor

Raises police officer entrance age in Massachusetts from 32 to 40 on exam date; expands eligible pool, while firefighters stay capped at 32.

House concurred

Overview

Bill number and title: Senate Docket No. 343; An Act relative to raising the entrance age of police officers.

Introduced: February 27, 2025.

Status: House concurred (as of the latest legislative actions).

Primary sponsor: Senator Patrick M. O’Connor (First Plymouth and Norfolk).

Subject: Changes to eligibility age for entry-level police officer positions in Massachusetts.

What the bill would change

The bill amends Section 58A of Chapter 31 of the General Laws.

It modifies the age condition for entry into the position of police officer on the date of the entrance examination.

Current rule (prior to the bill): A person could apply for the police officer position up to their 32nd birthday on the date of the entrance examination.

New rule under the bill: A person could apply for the police officer position up to their 40th birthday on the date of the entrance examination. The provision for the firefighter position remains: up to the applicant’s 32nd birthday.

In essence, the bill “raises the entrance age” for police officer candidates from 32 to 40, while keeping firefighter eligibility unchanged at age 32.

Who is affected

Police officer applicants who are pursuing entry-level positions and qualify based on the entrance examination date.

The change potentially expands the eligible applicant pool by allowing older applicants (up to age 40) to enter the police force.

Firefighter applicants are unaffected in terms of age eligibility (still up to age 32).

Procedural and timeline notes

Filed: January 12, 2025.

Legislative actions:

February 27, 2025 — referred to the Committee on Public Service.
February 27, 2025 — House concurred (indicating the House adopted the Senate’s version in concurrence).

Context: The bill references a similar matter previously filed in the prior session (Senate No. 1712 of 2023-2024), indicating ongoing interest in adjusting police entry-age requirements.

Potential implications and considerations

Workforce impact: Could broaden the recruitment pool for police departments by allowing applicants who are older than 32 to apply, potentially affecting hiring timelines and training logistics.

Retirement and benefits: Longer potential years of service may influence retirement timelines, benefit calculations, and actuarial considerations for police pension systems.

Equity and diversity: May affect demographic composition of applicants and uniformed staffing, depending on how age interacts with other recruitment policies.

Implementation: Changes apply to entrance examinations and eligibility determinations; departments would need to adjust recruitment materials and processes accordingly.

Summary

SD 343 proposes a targeted change to Massachusetts law to raise the maximum entrance age for police officer applicants from 32 to 40, while leaving firefighter age limits unchanged. The bill advanced through the Legislature in 2025, with the House concurring on the same day it was referred to Public Service, signaling alignment between chambers on this policy shift.

Bill