Rep. Birkeland announces resignation from Utah Legislature

SALT LAKE CITY — State Rep. Kera Birkeland, R-Morgan, has announced her resignation from the Utah Legislature.

On Thursday afternoon, Birkeland, who has served in the Utah House of Representatives since 2020, said she will step down on Jan. 10, 2025, according to her resignation letter posted to social media.

“My family and professional commitments have increasingly required my attention away from home, a trend I anticipate will persist for the next year or two,” Birkeland wrote. “This choice was not made lightly; it has weighed heavily on my mind for some time, partly because I feel that my work here is far from complete. Nevertheless, the present circumstances demand that I focus on other significant responsibilities.”

My priorities are:
My Faith
My Family
My constituents

Right now my family, particularly my parents, need more of my time.#utleg pic.twitter.com/0LJXCxhEgI

— KeraBirk (@KeraBirk) December 26, 2024

In an email to her House colleagues Thursday, Birkeland elaborated, noting that her “mother’s illness has required significant time and attention, and I feel it’s necessary to focus on my family during this challenging period.”

While only in office a few years, Birkeland quickly became one of the more high-profile members of the House GOP caucus as she sponsored several controversial pieces of legislation dealing with LGBTQ issues.

HB11, a law that Birkeland sponsored in 2022 barring transgender children from competing in girls’ sports, earned a rare veto from Gov. Spencer Cox before the Legislature overrode it. That prohibition was put on hold pending the outcome of a lawsuit, but a separate section of the law allows a state commission to decide whether an athlete can participate in a team aligning with their gender identity.

During the 2024 session, Birkeland was the sponsor of what became known as the transgender bathroom bill. The measure, among other things, put restrictions on transgender individuals using restrooms in government-owned buildings that don’t match up with their sex at birth.

Recently, Birkeland has been outspoken in support of the Utah State women’s volleyball team over its decision to forfeit a match against San Jose State University due to allegations that one of the players is transgender and was born a male.

In her resignation letter, Birkeland alluded to those issues as she thanked House Speaker Mike Schultz for his “unwavering support.”

“You have stood by me through many challenges,” Birkeland wrote. “Please continue to advocate for women and girls and the rights of parents across our great state.”

In another post, Birkeland said that the “demands of family and the needs of the district have grown significantly. New legislation, which I opposed, has led to various complications.”

Birkeland said she is not moving out of the state and accepted a remote position as the policy director for a farming organization.

“I am passionate about supporting American agriculture and recognize the challenges it faces. Particularly concerning Americas ability to grow its own food,” she said.

Birkeland ran for re-election this year and defeated Democrat Kris Campbell, winning 59% of the vote. Before her resignation was announced, Birkeland had been appointed to serve as Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee chair for the next term.

Republican delegates will now be responsible for selecting Birkeland’s replacement in the Legislature. The next legislative session begins Jan. 21.

“I love the caucus system and I trust the delegates. They will choose someone who is ready to take action from day one and continue the fight,” Birkeland said.

I’m not moving. We maintain homes in both states. For well over a year, my husband has been commuting to Montana for work while also assisting my parents. Our friends and family have been aware of this situation from the start; we simply chose to keep it private for my parents’…

— KeraBirk (@KeraBirk) December 27, 2024

Contributing: Michael Houck, KSL TV