The Overview
Massachusetts has enacted a law that lets William (Rob) Cargill take the civil service exam for a Haverhill firefighter position despite the maximum age requirement, and the Governor signed it on Sept. 10.
Massachusetts sets an upper age limit for firefighter civil-service applicants, and state officials have weighed raising local age caps as part of broader firefighter recruitment efforts. The governor signed the bill on September 10, 2026, as Chapter 209 of the Acts of 2026.
What the Law Does
The law waives the maximum age requirement specifically for William (Rob) Cargill, allowing him to sit for the civil-service exam for a firefighter position in Haverhill. Without the waiver, his age would have disqualified him from taking the exam under standard state civil-service rules.
Passing the civil-service exam is the gateway to being considered for a firefighter appointment in Massachusetts cities that use the civil-service system. The law does not change the age limit for any other applicant; it applies solely to Cargill and his application in Haverhill.
Legislative Status
Rep. Andy Vargas (D) sponsored the bill, filing it with the approval of Haverhill's mayor and city council. The House passed it April 2, and the Senate passed it Aug. 31. The bill was enacted Sept. 3 and signed into law Sept. 10.
WHAV reported that Haverhill's City Council had agreed to seek state age waivers so Cargill and another Haverhill resident could take the firefighter civil-service exam. The council's backing gave the bill a clear local mandate before it reached Beacon Hill.
In August 2025, FireRescue1 reported that Massachusetts officials were considering raising a local applicant age cap from 32 to 40.
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