Kera Birkeland, Architect of Controversial Anti-Trans Laws, Steps Down from Utah Legislature

State Representative Kera Birkeland, known for sponsoring legislation that bans transgender girls from participating in high school sports and restricts access to bathrooms and locker rooms for transgender individuals, announced she is resigning from the Legislature after winning reelection this fall.

In a social media post on Thursday, Birkeland explained that she needs to devote more time to her family, particularly her parents, and will resign from her position effective January 10, 2025—11 days before the start of the General Session.

My family and professional commitments have increasingly demanded my attention away from home, and I expect this trend to continue for the next year or two, Birkeland wrote in her resignation letter to House Speaker Mike Schultz, which she shared publicly.

My time as a representative in the Utah House has been immensely fulfilling, bringing both joy and passion. Ultimately, though, it is not the title that defines us, but the impact we make in uplifting those we serve.

In July, Birkeland was hired as the director of policy for the Montana Grain Growers Association, a position she did not disclose in her required conflict of interest report. Her next disclosure is due on January 10, the same day her resignation takes effect. Montana’s legislative session begins January 6, 2025.

In a statement, Speaker Schultz expressed that Birkeland had been a fierce advocate for the people in House District 4 and for the people of Utah. I’m proud to call her a colleague and, more importantly, a friend.

Birkeland was appointed to fill a vacancy in House District 4—which includes parts of Daggett, Duchesne, Morgan, Rich, and Summit counties— in April 2020. She won reelection last month with 60% of the vote.

Her replacement in the House will be selected by the Republican delegates in District 4.