Since assuming office, Representative McMurtry has been actively involved in various legislative committees. As of the 2023-2024 legislative session, he serves as the Chair of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses. In previous sessions, he has held roles such as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs and Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development. As a business owner, he was also deeply involved in discussions surrounding Dedham's Legacy Place, emphasizing the potential impact of new movie screens on Dedham Community Theatre, which he owned. His involvement in this issue was complicated by his dual role as both a state representative and a local business owner, prompting questions about potential conflicts of interest. McMurtry's early legislative priorities centered on economic growth and infrastructure. He supported the development of Westwood Station while advocating for measures to minimize traffic congestion on Canton Street, which connects Dedham and Westwood. In 2008, McMurtry became a central figure in a heated legislative battle to grant
Wegmans supermarket a beer and wine license at the planned $1.5 billion Westwood Station development. McMurtry encountered strong opposition from fellow representatives, notably
Angelo Scaccia and
William C. Galvin, who cited concerns over increased traffic and competitive disadvantages for existing businesses like
Roche Bros. In 2018, McMurtry was one of the original sponsors of Bill H.4479, which placed restrictions on e-cigarettes and raised the age for buying tobacco from 18 to 21. ==Electoral history==