Massachusetts Senate passes Medford civil service exemption, multiple local bills in brief session

Sessions-Senate · Meeting of August 20, 2026

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate passed more than a dozen local bills on unanimous voice votes at its August 20 session, including a civil service exemption for the Medford police chief and deputy chief. Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr led most procedural motions, repeatedly obtaining unanimous consent to suspend the rules and take up House-passed bills out of order.

Senator Joanne M. Comerford successfully amended House 5110, the Petersham police employment bill, to require officers Richard D. Cooley, Jr. and David A.

Shoemaker to maintain certification with the Massachusetts Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission and comply with all Municipal Police Training Committee mandates. A batch of five additional bills, covering land conveyances in Bolton and Lancaster, a Boston sewer easement release, a disability property tax exemption in Swampscott, and a civil service age waiver for a Haverhill firefighter applicant, were passed to be enacted and sent to the Governor. The Senate adjourned in memory of Mara Therese Whitmore, 54, of Taunton, sister of state Representative Lisa Field.

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Source: the Sessions-Senate meeting of August 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.