I grew up in rural Wisconsin, and I’m proud of it. We work hard, play by the rules, and all we expect in return is a fair shot. My parents were public school teachers, and they taught me an important lesson — don’t complain unless you’re going to do something about it.
So, I did something about it.
I ran for office to give a voice to everyone in Wisconsin who believes in fairness, opportunity, and community. People deserve a government that represents them and an economy that works for them instead of against them.
In the Legislature, I’ve advocated for Portage County’s workers, seniors, and everyday people in the General Assembly — whether you’re a millworker, a postal carrier, a veteran, a construction worker, a student, a farmer, a nurse, or a retiree, I’m here to listen to your story and be your voice in our State Capitol.
I work for you, and I will never forget that.
In the legislature
Rep. Shankland believes that government works best when it works together. She has a long track record of putting these beliefs into action, and she currently serves as the ranking member on the Assembly Committee on Workforce Development and as a member of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, the Assembly Committee on Sporting Heritage, the Assembly Committee on the Environment, the Assembly Committee on Colleges & Universities, and the Governor’s Council on Forestry and the Governor’s Council on Workforce Investment. Rep. Shankland serves in leadership roles in several bipartisan caucuses, including as the Vice Chair of the Legislative Paper Caucus and the Wisconsin State Lead for the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. She is also a member of the bipartisan Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and the Wisconsin Legislative Children’s Caucus.
She previously served on the Joint Finance Committee, a 16-member committee responsible for the state budget, as the Vice Chair of the bipartisan and bicameral Water Quality Task Force and Vice Chair of the bipartisan Speaker’s Task Force on Youth Workforce Readiness, and as the Assistant Assembly Democratic Leader. She also previously served on the Governor’s Council on Domestic Abuse and the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board.
Rep. Shankland has been honored for her service in the State Assembly by farmers, veterans, firefighters, doctors, conservationists, public health experts, industry, and financial institutions. The following organizations have recognized her for her leadership in the Legislature:
- Wisconsin Education Association Council: Friend of Education, 2021-22
- Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association: Community Health Center State Grant Champion, 2021
- Stevens Point Academic Representation Council: Higher Education Hero Award, 2020
- RENEW Wisconsin Energy Fund: Legislative Leadership Award, 2019-20
- Wisconsin Land + Water: Friend of Conservation, 2019-20
- Wisconsin Counties Association: Outstanding Legislator, 2019-20
- Wisconsin Association for Home Health Care: Friend of Home Health Care, 2019-20
- Wisconsin Paper Council: Legislator of the Year, 2019
- Wisconsin Wildlife Federation: Conservation Legislator of the Year, 2019
- Wisconsin Community Development Financial Institutions: Distinguished Service by a Wisconsin Representative, 2019
- Wisconsin Farmers Union: Friend of the Family Farmer, 2018
- Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians: Friend of Family Medicine, 2018
- Wisconsin Association of Local Health Departments and Boards & Wisconsin Public Health Association: Friend of Public Health, 2018
- Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin: Legislator of the Year, 2018
- Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs: Legislator of the Year, 2017
- Veterans of Foreign Wars: Legislator of the Year, 2017
- Wisconsin Conservation Voters: Conservation Champion, every session since elected
Getting Results
Rep. Shankland delivers results by working across the aisle to pass meaningful legislation into law that benefits everyone. Rep. Shankland has authored and passed bipartisan laws during every legislative session she has served, under both Republican and Democratic governors. She authored the law to create a community paramedic program in Wisconsin, increasing access to affordable healthcare while creating jobs in rural communities and lowering the rate of 911 calls. She worked with both parties to keep Skyward in Wisconsin by changing an unfair law that impacted their business. Rep. Shankland also authored and passed legislation to help people with disabilities gain access to long-term, meaningful employment, a bill that Governor Walker highlighted in his Blueprint for Prosperity agenda and which connected tens of thousands of people to jobs in Wisconsin.
Rep. Shankland authored and passed bipartisan bills into law that will protect first responders from distracted drivers, support farmers with water quality efforts, help local governments know what’s in their drinking water, and streamline the process for local governments to hold a referendum, saving taxpayer money. Throughout her service, Rep. Shankland has also been a consistent and vocal advocate for stopping Sexually Violent Persons (SVPs) from being shipped to Central Wisconsin and helped pass a law requiring that SVPs be placed in their home county, preventing half a dozen SVPs from coming to Portage County.
As Vice Chair of the bipartisan Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality, Rep. Shankland traveled across the state, holding 14 public hearings and touring wetlands and farms to learn more about local water quality efforts. She worked with the members of the task force in both parties over the last four years to pass bills into law tackling PFAS and nitrate contamination. From investing in our Wisconsin water workforce to helping families replace their septic systems and contaminated wells, she has delivered real results for people across the state. You can listen to her most recent update on these bills that are now law with the chair of the task force, Rep. Novak (R-Dodgeville), at this WPR segment here.
Recently, Rep. Shankland joined the governor to launch a new well compensation grant program for people with contaminated private wells. As the author of several bills to expand access to clean drinking water over the years, her legislative efforts were recognized by the governor, and together, they launched a new program to replace, repair, and remediate contaminated water from private wells in Wisconsin. Under the new program, 100% of the cost to replace or repair a private well or treat the contaminated water with reverse osmosis systems will be covered up to $16,000 per household for all households with an income under $100,000 that qualify. Rep. Shankland continues to deliver meaningful results for not just her constituents, but all of Wisconsin.
At home in Portage County
Katrina and her husband live in Stevens Point with their dogs, Stitch and Lyra. They are both UWSP graduates.
They enjoy the Green Circle Trail, visiting the area’s breweries, distillery, and winery, attending community events and live music, and kayaking, hiking, and biking in the great outdoors.