Rep. Liz Hanbidge's Biography
Representative Liz Hanbidge serves Pennsylvania’s 61st Legislative District in Montgomery County and has been a steadfast advocate for children, families, and seniors since her election in 2018. She holds leadership roles as Vice Chair of both the House Children & Youth Committee and the Southeastern Pennsylvania House Delegation. Her committee assignments include Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Judiciary, Children & Youth, the Committee on Committees, Health, and Local Government.
With a background in family law and child advocacy, Rep. Hanbidge was appointed by the governor to Pennsylvania’s State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC), where she works to strengthen early intervention services for infants and toddlers. She also serves on the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) Juvenile Justice Task Force and was named a NCSL Youth Justice Fellow in recognition of her leadership in juvenile justice reform. In 2022, she was selected as a Toll Fellow by the Council of State Governments, one of the nation’s premier leadership development programs for state officials.
Rep. Hanbidge has championed and passed a range of impactful legislation, including Act 40 of 2024, legislation updating Pennsylvania’s “slayer statute” to prevent automatic inheritance by individuals convicted of abusing an older decedent. She sponsored a law to prevent SLAPP lawsuits that suppress free speech, as well as legislation requiring informed, explicit consent for internal medical exams—such as pelvic, rectal, or prostate exams—when performed solely for teaching purposes. She has advanced reforms to modernize child custody proceedings and has been instrumental in establishing childcare public–private partnerships to improve access and affordability. Her legislative agenda includes efforts to enhance maternal health, expand and preserve childcare access, and strengthen consumer protections.
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with advanced degrees from Oxford, Harvard, and the University of Wisconsin, Rep. Hanbidge brings expertise in child psychology and law, along with a tireless commitment to serving the people of Pennsylvania.