Bill
H 4140
Wellesley may extend the 15-mile residency limit for its regular police and fire departments, but only through a collective bargaining agreement; effective upon passage.
Note on document contents
- The materials provided include two different bill texts merged into one file: (A) a Massachusetts local act titled “An Act relative to non-civil service public safety personnel in the town of Wellesley” (House No. 4140 / Docket 4658), and (B) a South Carolina statutory amendment concerning early voting hours (amendment to S.C. Code §7-13-25). The header and sponsor information (Rep. Alice Hanlon Peisch) and the Massachusetts text indicate H 4140 is the Wellesley residency measure. The legislative-action timeline included in the file appears to reflect later enactment activity (including a Governor’s signature) that likely pertains to the South Carolina early-voting language. Below are clear, separate summaries of each text and relevant procedural notes.
Purpose and intent
- To allow the town of Wellesley to increase the statutory 15-mile residency limit for members of its regular police and fire departments.
Key provisions
- Repeal-by-exception: Notwithstanding G.L. c.41, §99A (which generally requires certain municipal employees to live within 15 miles of their municipality), the town of Wellesley may increase that 15-mile residency limit for members of the regular Wellesley police and fire departments.
- Collective bargaining condition: Any increase in the residency limit must be set through a collective bargaining agreement negotiated under G.L. c.150E (the Massachusetts collective bargaining law for municipal employees).
- Effective date: The act takes effect upon its passage.
Who is affected
- Primary: Members of the regular Wellesley police and fire departments (non‑civil service public safety personnel identified in the title/text).
- Secondary: The Town of Wellesley (municipal administration), municipal labor negotiators, and town residents may be affected by recruitment/retention outcomes.
Procedural / timeline notes
- Introduced/Filed in Massachusetts: May 7–12, 2025; referred to Committee on Judiciary and to the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government (local approval received). Sponsor: Rep. Alice Hanlon Peisch.
- The bill text states it is effective upon passage; no dollar amounts or other fiscal provisions are included in the text provided.
Likely impact
- Gives Wellesley local flexibility to broaden the geographic area from which it can recruit and retain police and fire personnel, but only if agreed to in collective bargaining. This can affect staffing, recruitment, and commuting patterns.
Purpose and intent
- To standardize/extend early voting days and hours for certain elections.
Key provisions (as amended)
- For statewide general elections and statewide primaries: early voting centers must be open each day of the early voting period from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- For elections that are not statewide general elections, statewide primaries, or runoff elections: early voting centers must be open Monday–Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the early voting period.
- For runoff elections: early voting centers must be open Wednesday–Friday immediately preceding the election from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Early voting centers must not be open on Sundays or on legal holidays.
- Effective upon Governor’s approval.
Who is affected
- County boards of voter registration and elections (administration/operations), voters across the state (access/hours), and election staff.
Procedural / timeline notes included in the file
- The document lists legislative actions through Oct 2025, including enactment and a Governor’s signature (signed by the Governor, Chapter 49 of the Acts of 2025). It is not clear from the merged file whether those entries were intended for the Massachusetts or the South Carolina text; however, the South Carolina text explicitly states it takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
If you want, I can:
- Extract and produce a standalone clean summary (and one‑page fact sheet) for either the Massachusetts Wellesley measure or the South Carolina early‑voting amendment.
- Look up the official legislative docket/status in the relevant state (MA or SC) to resolve the procedural timeline.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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