Karen Karls
Republican · ND · State Representative
Retired Bismarck medical technologist who has served in the House since 2007 and is vice chair of the Judiciary Committee. Works on health care, veterans affairs and court facilities issues.
Where Karen Karls stands, based on their records
Supports
Healthcare Affordability (4 records), Public Safety and Crime Control (2 records), Social Programs and Welfare (1 record),
Mixed record
Environment and Public Health (1 support · 1 oppose), Immigration (1 support · 1 oppose), Gun Control (1 support · 1 oppose),
Track record
Track record — Healthcare Affordability
Healthcare Affordability · 4 support
Was prime sponsor of HB 1216, filed as law on April 29, 2025. It set rules on patients' out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs, including in self-insured health plans.
April 29, 2025Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: ndlegis.gov
Also on this bill
- April 24, 2025 · Voted for House Bill 1216, which makes health plans count drug maker coupons toward a person's deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. The North Dakota House passed it 56-37, and it became law. (Supports Healthcare Affordability)
Voted for House Bill 1216, which makes health plans count drug maker coupons toward a person's deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. The North Dakota House passed it 56-37, and it became law.
April 24, 2025Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: legiscan.com
Also on this bill
- April 29, 2025 · Was prime sponsor of HB 1216, filed as law on April 29, 2025. It set rules on patients' out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs, including in self-insured health plans. (Supports Healthcare Affordability)
Voted for House Bill 1283, a bill to stop the state employee health plan charging for follow-up breast scans. The North Dakota House passed it 66-26, but the Senate rejected it 22-24 and it did not become law.
February 25, 2025Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: legiscan.com
Voted for House Bill 1114, which caps what a person pays out of pocket for a 30-day insulin supply at $25. The North Dakota House passed it 59-27, and it became law.
February 20, 2025Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: legiscan.com
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 support · 1 oppose
Voted for Senate Bill 2159, which lifts the ban on nuclear waste research at the state energy research center. The North Dakota House passed it 57-32, and it became law.
April 9, 2025Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: legiscan.com
Voted for House Bill 1058, which sets the state's first rules for aboveground fuel tanks. The North Dakota House passed it 66-24, and it became law.
April 7, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: legiscan.com
Track record — Immigration
Immigration · 1 support · 1 oppose
Voted for House Bill 1600, which sets up an immigration law clinic at the University of North Dakota school of law. The North Dakota House passed it 64-29, and it became law.
April 21, 2025Supports Immigration
Source: legiscan.com
Voted for House Bill 1585, a bill to make police report people they believed were in the country illegally to federal agents. The North Dakota House rejected it 41-50, so it did not become law.
February 7, 2025Opposes Immigration
Source: legiscan.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 2 support
Voted for House Bill 1225, which adds a new felony level for reckless endangerment with a firearm. The North Dakota House passed it 72-21, and it became law.
April 21, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: legiscan.com
Voted for House Bill 1341, which makes assaulting a hospital worker a felony. The North Dakota House passed it 68-21, and it became law.
April 7, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: legiscan.com
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 1 support
Voted for Senate Bill 2352, which lets a child of 18 months or younger live with their mother at the Heart River correctional center. The North Dakota House passed it 48-42, and it became law.
March 26, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: legiscan.com
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 1 support
Voted for Senate Bill 2213, which requires new elementary and secondary teachers to show competence in direct math instruction. The North Dakota House passed it 63-30, and it became law.
April 24, 2025Supports Public Education Quality
Source: legiscan.com
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 1 support · 1 oppose
Was prime sponsor of HB 1467, filed as law on April 12, 2013. It limits the governor's emergency powers over firearms during declared emergencies.
April 12, 2013Opposes Gun Control
Source: ndlegis.gov
Was prime sponsor of HB 1269, filed as law on April 27, 2011. It set rules on firearm possession by people with certain mental health findings and on related confidential records.
April 27, 2011Supports Gun Control
Source: ndlegis.gov
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 support · 2 oppose
Voted for Senate Bill 2307, a bill to make libraries and schools keep sexual material away from minors. The North Dakota House passed it 49-45, but the Governor vetoed it and the override failed, so it did not become law.
April 14, 2025Opposes Civil Rights
Source: legiscan.com
Voted for House Bill 1455, a bill to make the state consult tribes about bills that affect them. The North Dakota House passed it 63-28, but the Senate rejected it 7-40 and it did not become law.
February 18, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: legiscan.com
Voted for House Bill 1456, a bill to let public schools bring in chaplains. The North Dakota House rejected it 35-46, so it did not become law.
February 14, 2025Opposes Civil Rights
Source: legiscan.com
Track record — Corporate Accountability
Corporate Accountability · 1 support · 2 oppose
Voted for Senate Bill 2339, which bars courts from holding an electric utility strictly liable for wildfire damage. The North Dakota House passed it 62-28, and it became law.
April 18, 2025Opposes Corporate Accountability
Source: legiscan.com
Voted for House Bill 1318, which limits when a pesticide maker can be sued for failing to warn about health risks. The North Dakota House passed it 51-40, and it became law.
April 16, 2025Opposes Corporate Accountability
Source: legiscan.com
Voted for House Bill 1496, a bill to set 68 degrees as the heat a landlord must keep in a rented home. The North Dakota House passed it 70-19, but the Senate rejected it 11-35 and it did not become law.
February 11, 2025Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: legiscan.com
Track record — General
General · 12 records
Was prime sponsor of HB 1479, filed as law on April 16, 2025, which created North Dakota Constitution Day.
April 16, 2025
Source: ndlegis.gov
Voted against House Bill 1411, a bill to ban red flag gun orders across North Dakota. The North Dakota House rejected it 39-53, so it did not become law.
February 25, 2025
Source: legiscan.com
Voted against House Bill 1475, a bill to make school breakfast and lunch free for every student. The North Dakota House rejected it 39-54, so it did not become law.
February 24, 2025
Source: legiscan.com
Voted against House Bill 1217, which repeals the law making it a crime to willfully transfer a body fluid containing HIV. The North Dakota House passed it 50-43, and it became law.
February 19, 2025
Source: legiscan.com
Voted against House Bill 1583, a bill to widen the crime of running a false political ad to reckless disregard for the truth. The North Dakota House passed it 55-34, but the Senate rejected it 11-36 and it did not become law.
February 18, 2025
Source: legiscan.com
Voted against House Bill 1478, a bill to write a right to birth control into state law. The North Dakota House rejected it 27-66, so it did not become law.
February 12, 2025
Source: legiscan.com
Voted against House Bill 1145, a bill to require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public schools and colleges. The North Dakota House rejected it 38-53, so it did not become law.
February 12, 2025
Source: legiscan.com
Voted against House Bill 1477, a bill to write a right to fertility treatment into state law. The North Dakota House rejected it 34-59, so it did not become law.
February 12, 2025
Source: legiscan.com
Was prime sponsor of HB 1415, filed as law on April 9, 2019, which ties driver's license applications to federal Selective Service registration.
April 9, 2019
Source: ndlegis.gov
Was prime sponsor of HB 1395, filed as law in April 2017, which changed state dangerous-weapons laws as they apply to retired law enforcement officers.
April 12, 2017
Source: ndlegis.gov
Was prime sponsor of HB 1457, filed as law on April 15, 2015, which changed how seized firearms are forfeited and disposed of.
April 15, 2015
Source: ndlegis.gov
Was prime sponsor of HB 1260, filed as law on April 8, 2013, which set which court hears petitions to restore firearm rights.
April 8, 2013
Source: ndlegis.gov
Past race Karen Karls ran in:
- State Representative · November 3, 2026 · State House District 35; North Dakota · incumbent