Sen. Chris Gebhard serves the 48th Senatorial District, which contains all of Lebanon County and portions of Berks and Lancaster counties. In the 2023-24 session, he serves on the Banking and Insurance; Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure; Environmental Resources and Energy; Law and Justice; and Rules and Executive Nominations committees. He also is the chairman of the Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee.
What are your top legislative priorities?
Voter ID is a big one. We have seen poll after poll showing overwhelming support for this idea. Many other states have Voter ID laws and putting that in place here in PA would go a long way toward restoring confidence for some voters in our electoral system. Also, as the committee chairman that oversees gaming in the Commonwealth, skill games regulation is another topic I’ve been working on. I think there is certainly momentum to establish a state tax and regulatory structure for these games in Pennsylvania, it’s just a matter of finalizing the fine print and details.
What are the important issues facing your district?
One of the big challenges we are facing is the population growth in our [district]. For instance, the 2020 census showed Lebanon County was the second fastest-growing county in Pennsylvania. We have seen the number of new housing developments skyrocket across the region in the last decade. Also, the number of warehousing facilities keeps increasing as well. Those two factors are in stark contrast to the agrarian traditions we have as agriculture is the largest industry in Central Pennsylvania. So, in response we have seen an increase in Farmland Preservation programs at the state and county levels to provide some balance to that growth.
What are the biggest challenges for grocers in your district?
Sadly, I think this industry is facing the same problems every business is in Pennsylvania — personnel. There has been a real shortage of labor across all industries these past several years. Also, the Governor’s desire to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour would be a real challenge for some in the industry.
What are your biggest challenges and successes as a legislator?
One of the biggest challenges has been not having enough time. The office gets invitations from so many organizations and businesses for me to visit. Literally every day could be filled with events, tours and meetings from members of the community. It’s frustrating that I cannot make them all, but we have been to as many as possible. Also, meeting everyone has been one of the most rewarding things about this job. Just last week I had to the opportunity to attend the 102nd birthday of a wonderful lady who was stationed at the Middletown Airfield during WWII. She is a living ‘Rosie the Riveter’ who repaired B-17 bombers and C-47 cargo planes damaged during the second world war.
What is your favorite vacation destination?
My older brother was a colonel for the U.S. Army Rangers stationed in Hawaii, and he recently was promoted to general. He now is based in Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) in North Carolina, but before his promotion, my family and I took a vacation out to Hawaii to visit him. It was the first time we were able to take our sons there to see their uncle’s house. We had such a great time with him and his family and it is such an amazing and beautiful set of islands. It is a vacation I will never forget.
What is your favorite food or meal to cook?
About three years ago my wife bought me a Traeger Smoker as a gift. It certainly has become my favorite way to cook, and we particularly enjoy getting a few pounds of Bell & Evans wings (proudly produced in Fredericksburg, PA) and have family and friends over in the summer on the back porch.
What do you like to do for fun?
In my spare time, when I’m not working as a state senator, I run my family insurance business, Hoaster Gebhard & Co. in Lebanon. My wife and I also have two boys and we joke that our part-time jobs are driving them to and from all their afterschool sports practices and extracurricular activities.
What is your greatest success as a legislator over the past few years?
In December 2023, the governor finally signed our bill creating a financial literacy class for all Pennsylvania students. This half-credit course will give all high school students the understanding they need about topics such as credit and credit scores; savings and investments; college, home, and auto loans; and planning for post-secondary education and retirement. It really is a common-sense measure that will help all young people become more financially successful. I thought this legislation was critical because so many young adults are learning money management by making mistakes early on in their lives. Starting out in a financial hole is a real hinderance to personal and career success and this course will provide everyone practical skills to make the best decisions.
