An Act relative to the Massachusetts Fire Training Council

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Moore

The bill replaces “A full-call fire department” with “An at large fire department” in Section 164, Chapter 6, clarifying Fire Training Council terminology.

House concurred

Overview

Bill number: Senate Docket No. 665

Title: An Act relative to the Massachusetts Fire Training Council

Status: House concurred (February 27, 2025); referred to the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Introduced: February 27, 2025

Primary sponsor: Sen. Michael O. Moore

Context: The bill proposes a single, targeted change to the General Laws governing the Massachusetts Fire Training Council by updating a genetic wording in the statutory description of a fire department category.

What the bill does

The sole substantive provision amends Section 164 of Chapter 6 of the General Laws (as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition).

Text change: The bill strikes the words “A full-call fire department;” and inserts the words “An at large fire department;” in their place.

In effect, this is a terminology update within the statute governing the Fire Training Council, replacing a descriptor of a fire department category with a different descriptor.

Key provisions and changes

Amendment scope: Narrow and non-controversial change to statutory language; no new programs, funding, or authorities are created.

Immediate effect: The statutory definition in Section 164 will refer to “an at large fire department” rather than “a full-call fire department,” aligning the terminology with the intended category used by the Fire Training Council (or the context in which the term is applied).

Who is affected

The Massachusetts Fire Training Council and its governance considerations are directly affected through the revised descriptor.

Fire departments and municipalities that interact with or are represented on the Fire Training Council may experience the change in terminology in any statutory references or classifications.

Procedural and timeline notes

Filed: January 14, 2025 (Senate)

House action: Concurred on February 27, 2025; subsequently referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Legislative path: As introduced in the Senate, the bill moved through the standard process with a House concurrence and referral to a relevant committee for review.

Potential impact

Policy impact: Largely administrative; the substantive governance or funding of the Fire Training Council remains unchanged.

Practical impact: Minor clarifications in statutory language may affect how departments are categorized or described in official documents and future amendments.

Fiscal impact: Not indicated; the change is purely terminological and does not create new programs or funding requirements.

Bottom line

SD 665 makes a targeted, wording-only revision to the Massachusetts General Laws to replace “A full-call fire department” with “An at large fire department” in Section 164 of Chapter 6, clarifying the statutory description used by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council. The bill has advanced through the Legislature and has been acted upon by the House, moving to committee consideration.

Bill