Utah State Representative Kera Birkeland has announced her resignation from the Legislature, citing increased family obligations, particularly due to her mother's illness. Birkeland, who was re-elected in November, will step down effective January 10, 2025, just days before the start of the next legislative session.
Utah State Rep. Kera Birkeland has announced her resignation from the Legislature. The Republican lawmaker wrote on social media that she was resigning because her family, particularly her parents, need more of her time. 'It is with a heavy heart that I announce my decision to resign from the Utah House of Representatives, effective January 10th, 2025.
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 in a resignation letter to House Speaker Mike Schultz that she shared on X on Thursday. '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.' According to KSL-TV, Birkeland wrote in an email to colleagues 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.' Why It Matters Birkeland's resignation comes just weeks after she won re-election in November. She said her resignation will be effective January 10, 2025—just 11 days before the start of the 2025 legislative session. What To Know Birkeland was first appointed to the Utah Legislature in April 2020. She was re-elected to another two-year term in November. She has become known for sponsoring anti-trans legislation, including a bill that banned transgender girls from high school sports and another that restricts which bathrooms and changing rooms transgender people can use. Birkeland was hired as the director of policy for the Montana Grain Growers Association in July but never disclosed this in her required conflict of interest disclosure, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. She denied that she was moving to Montana in a post on X late Thursday. 'I'm not moving. We maintain homes in both states
Resignation Family Health Politics Utah Legislature
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rep. Kera Birkeland announces resignation from Utah LegislatureUtah state Rep. Kera Birkeland, R-Morgan, announced she will resign from the Legislature effective Jan. 10, 2025, citing the need to spend more time with her family.
Read more »
Mountain West basketball preview: Boise State, Nevada, San Diego State, Utah State atop the packMWC could receive just two NCAA tournament bids this season
Read more »
Kera Birkeland, lawmaker behind Utah’s anti-trans laws, resigns from LegislatureRepublican state Rep. Kera Birkeland, the lawmaker behind several of Utah's anti-transgender laws, announced Thursday that she is resigning from the Legislature.
Read more »
Which players have entered the transfer portal from Utah, BYU, and Utah StateWho’s in, who’s out: Here's which players have entered the transfer portal from Utah, BYU, Utah State and others
Read more »
Kennady McQueen hits 5 3-pointers as Utah women overwhelm Utah State 87-34The only thing cooling Kennady McQueen down in the first few minutes of the game was a trip to the bench.
Read more »
Utah State blows out Utah Tech in 92-62 win to stay undefeatedFive Utah State players scored in double figures Saturday night.
Read more »