Karla Rose Hanson is an American politician and small business owner who serves as a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives. She is a member of the Democratic-NPL Party and represents District 44, which includes portions of north Fargo and downtown Fargo. Hanson has been in the House since 2016, providing legislative leadership focused on health care, public education, affordable childcare, and reproductive freedom. Outside of her legislative duties, she is the owner of Karla Rose Hanson Communications, a limited liability company, and is active in community advocacy work.

Hanson is a co-founder of the North Dakota Coalition for Privacy in Health Care and the Faith Forward Network North Dakota, organizations that work on health care privacy and faith-based civic engagement, respectively. She has also served on various state boards and commissions, including the Crime Victims Services Board, the Lottery Commission, and the Juvenile Justice Commission. Hanson lives in Fargo with her husband, Shawn, and their two children.

Education

Karla Rose Hanson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from North Dakota State University in 1994. Her background in communication has supported her professional work in media, technology, and small business, as well as her advocacy and legislative efforts.

Political Experience

Hanson was first elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives in 2016 and has represented District 44 since then. Within the legislature, she has held several committee assignments and leadership roles. She has served as Vice Chair of the Higher Education Funding Review Committee and has been a member of committees including Appropriations, Judiciary, and the Special Education Funding Committee. Her work often focuses on education, health care, and issues affecting families and working people in North Dakota.