Representative Lou Schmitt

Louis Charles Schmitt Jr. was born on March 21, 1962, in Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania. He is a Republican who represented the 79th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, serving constituents in Blair County, including Altoona and Logan and Allegheny townships.

Schmitt worked as an attorney and was a partner at the law firm McIntyre, Hartye, Schmitt, and Sosnowski from 1993 to 2018. Beyond his legal practice, he has been active in alternative dispute resolution, founding ADR Solutions in 2013 and the Center for Divorce and Dispute Resolution in 2015, where he served as founder and principal for both organizations. He also worked as a basketball analyst for Panther247 beginning in 2012.

Schmitt resigned from his House seat at the end of 2025 to become a Blair County judge.

Education

Schmitt graduated from Altoona Area High School in 1980. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from Saint Francis University in 1984, and a Juris Doctor from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law in 1987.

Political Experience

Schmitt was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Republican in 2018 and was reelected for three consecutive terms, serving from 2019 through 2025. During his tenure, he held membership on several House committees, including the Appropriations Committee, State Government Committee, and Transportation Committee. He also previously served on the Commerce Committee, Insurance Committee, Local Government Committee, and Urban Affairs Committee, and held the position of former Secretary of the State Government Committee.