James Michael Murphy
Democratic · MA · Massachusetts State Representative, 4th Norfolk District
James M. Murphy, a Weymouth attorney and former Suffolk County prosecutor, has served in the Massachusetts House since 2001 and chairs the Joint Committee on Financial Services. His bills address financial exploitation of seniors and adults with disabilities, and credit card surcharges.
Where James Michael Murphy stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (7 records), Labor Rights (1 record), Immigration (2 records),
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (9 records)
Mixed record
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (2 support · 1 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 7 support
Filed H.1908 to ban the sale of energy drinks to people under 18.
February 27, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the final 2024 clean energy law (S.2967) on speeding up permits for clean energy projects and upgrading the power grid. The House passed it 128-17.
November 14, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the final 2022 clean energy and offshore wind law (H.5060). The House passed it 146-7.
July 21, 2022Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the climate law (S.9) setting a state goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, after voting the same way on its first passage on January 28, 2021. The House passed it 145-14.
March 18, 2021Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the final tobacco control law (H.4196), which banned sales of flavored tobacco and vaping products, including menthol cigarettes. The House passed it 119-33.
November 21, 2019Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Filed the bill behind H.4008, which required a state air-quality monitoring station near the proposed natural gas compressor station in Weymouth's Fore River area. The House passed it on July 30, 2019, but the Senate did not act.
July 30, 2019Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: wgbh.org
Filed H.2907 to require the Legislature's approval before any natural gas compressor station could be built in Massachusetts.
January 22, 2019Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Labor Rights
Labor Rights · 1 support
Voted for the final pay transparency law (H.4890), which requires larger employers to list salary ranges in job postings, after voting the same way on the House version (H.4109) on October 4, 2023. The House passed it 153-5.
July 24, 2024Supports Labor Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Immigration
Immigration · 2 support
Voted for the PROTECT Act (H.5620), a law limiting state and local help with federal civil immigration enforcement. The House passed it 137-21.
July 30, 2026Supports Immigration
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for overriding Governor Baker's veto of H.4805 (the Work and Family Mobility Act), which lets residents without legal immigration status get driver's licenses. The House passed it 119-36.
June 8, 2022Supports Immigration
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 9 oppose
Voted for the final fiscal 2027 state budget (H.5555), after voting the same way on the final fiscal 2026 budget (H.4240) on June 30, 2025. The House passed it 142-6.
July 1, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the fiscal 2025 closeout supplemental budget (H.4761). The House passed it 149-9.
November 19, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for H.4750, a bill to borrow money for building projects at public colleges and universities. The House passed it 148-5.
November 18, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for a fiscal 2025 supplemental budget (H.4005) spending income-surtax money on education and transportation. The House passed it 140-14.
April 9, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the final Mass Leads Act (H.5100), a $4 billion economic development bond bill for life sciences, climate technology, and artificial intelligence. The House passed it 137-8.
November 14, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the final Affordable Homes Act (H.4977), a $5.16 billion housing bond bill that also allowed small backyard in-law apartments statewide, after voting the same way on the House version (H.4707) on June 5, 2024. The House passed it 128-24.
August 1, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the final fiscal 2024 supplemental budget (H.4582), which added $251 million for the emergency family shelter system and set a nine-month limit on most shelter stays. The House passed it 123-35.
April 25, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for a $2.8 billion fiscal 2023 closeout supplemental budget (H.4167) that included $250 million for the emergency family shelter system. The House passed it 133-25.
November 8, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the final enactment of H.4052, a law making phone calls free for people held in state prisons and county jails. The House passed it 132-26.
November 8, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 2 support · 1 oppose
Voted for the PROTECT Act (H.5620), a law limiting state and local help with federal civil immigration enforcement. The House passed it 137-21.
July 30, 2026Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the final enactment of H.4052, a law making phone calls free for people held in state prisons and county jails. The House passed it 132-26.
November 8, 2023Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted against the final police reform law (S.2963), which created a state commission to certify police officers and set new limits on police use of force. The House passed it 91-67.
December 1, 2020Opposes Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 support
Voted for the final Affordable Homes Act (H.4977), a $5.16 billion housing bond bill that also allowed small backyard in-law apartments statewide, after voting the same way on the House version (H.4707) on June 5, 2024. The House passed it 128-24.
August 1, 2024Supports Housing Affordability
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 3 support
Filed H.1270 to protect seniors and adults with disabilities from financial exploitation.
February 27, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the final fiscal 2024 supplemental budget (H.4582), which added $251 million for the emergency family shelter system and set a nine-month limit on most shelter stays. The House passed it 123-35.
April 25, 2024Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for a $2.8 billion fiscal 2023 closeout supplemental budget (H.4167) that included $250 million for the emergency family shelter system. The House passed it 133-25.
November 8, 2023Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 4 support
Voted for S.2581, a bill requiring schools to limit student use of cellphones and other personal devices during the school day. The House passed it 129-25.
April 8, 2026Supports Public Education Quality
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for H.4750, a bill to borrow money for building projects at public colleges and universities. The House passed it 148-5.
November 18, 2025Supports Public Education Quality
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for H.4672, a bill on teacher preparation and student literacy instruction. The House passed it 155-0.
October 29, 2025Supports Public Education Quality
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for a fiscal 2025 supplemental budget (H.4005) spending income-surtax money on education and transportation. The House passed it 140-14.
April 9, 2025Supports Public Education Quality
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 1 support
Voted for the final gun-law overhaul (H.4885, An Act modernizing firearm laws), after voting the same way on the House version (H.4135) on October 18, 2023. The House passed it 124-33.
July 18, 2024Supports Gun Control
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 4 support
Voted for H.5595, a law letting a physician perform an abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy based on medical judgment, removing the list of required reasons. The House passed it 121-35.
July 31, 2026Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for S.2543, a law strengthening legal protections for people who provide or receive reproductive and gender-affirming health care, including keeping providers' home addresses out of public records. The House passed it 132-24.
July 31, 2025Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the final version of H.5090, a law expanding legal protections for people who provide or receive abortions and gender-affirming care. The House passed it 137-16.
July 26, 2022Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for overriding Governor Baker's veto of H.5179 (the ROE Act), which put abortion rights in state law and expanded access, including for 16- and 17-year-olds without parental consent. The House passed it 107-46.
December 28, 2020Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Election Integrity
Election Integrity · 2 support
Voted for H.5093, a bill to protect voters against deceptive election misinformation. The House passed it 154-3.
February 11, 2026Supports Election Integrity
Source: malegislature.gov
Filed H.858 to require disclosure of who pays for political phone calls, such as campaign polls and robocalls.
February 27, 2025Supports Election Integrity
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Personal Income Tax Reduction
Personal Income Tax Reduction · 1 support
Filed H.3204 to cut state income taxes for grandparents raising their grandchildren. The House moved it to a third reading on April 13, 2026.
April 13, 2026Supports Personal Income Tax Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Data Privacy
Data Privacy · 1 support
Voted for S.2543, a law strengthening legal protections for people who provide or receive reproductive and gender-affirming health care, including keeping providers' home addresses out of public records. The House passed it 132-24.
July 31, 2025Supports Data Privacy
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 2 support
Voted for the final VOTES Act (S.2924), which made mail-in voting and early voting permanent in Massachusetts. The House passed it 126-29.
June 16, 2022Supports Civil Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for H.140, a bill banning licensed health professionals from using conversion therapy to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of minors. The House passed it 148-8.
March 13, 2019Supports Civil Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Corporate Accountability
Corporate Accountability · 2 support
Filed H.1269 to end penalty charges when drivers cancel auto insurance policies. The House moved it to a third reading on October 14, 2025.
October 14, 2025Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: malegislature.gov
Filed H.3537 to give ratepayers and community groups a formal role in state proceedings on gas and electric utility requests.
February 27, 2025Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 2 support
Voted for a fiscal 2025 supplemental budget (H.4005) spending income-surtax money on education and transportation. The House passed it 140-14.
April 9, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for H.4508, a House bill raising the gas tax by 5 cents a gallon and raising taxes on corporations and ride-hailing trips to pay for transportation. The House passed it 113-40.
March 4, 2020Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — General
General · 4 records
Voted for H.5469, a House bill setting public-records rules for the Legislature and defining how the state auditor may audit it; the state auditor said it narrowed the audit voters approved in 2024. The House passed it 125-28.
June 3, 2026
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the final version of H.5350, a bill overhauling the state's cannabis laws and its Cannabis Control Commission. The House passed it 155-0.
April 8, 2026
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for H.5151, the House energy bill on energy costs, clean power, and utility rules. The House passed it 128-27.
February 26, 2026
Source: malegislature.gov
Filed H.857 to create a state commission to study raising turnout in primary elections, including a top-two primary system.
February 27, 2025
Source: malegislature.gov
Past race James Michael Murphy ran in:
- State Representative 4th Norfolk District · November 3, 2026 · 4th Norfolk District; Massachusetts · incumbent