Opinion: Dear Colorado legislators: Don’t cut your youth advisory council just for a $50k savings

I am 16 years old, a junior in high school, and I’ve been a member of the Colorado Youth Advisory Council, or COYAC, for two years. I have become a more confident and driven person because of my time in COYAC, which connects teens with state legislators to give youth a direct voice in creating policy. 

Pursuing crucial issues alongside such an incredible group of peers has provided me with immeasurable hope for our future. I can’t imagine losing this community, but that’s what will happen if the legislature chooses to pause or eliminate its youth advisory group to save $50,000.

Then-state Rep. Ellen Roberts of Durango created COYAC in 2008 to give teens ages 14-19 a voice in the lawmaking process. COYAC members bring their experiences to the table when creating policy proposals. Youth hold a unique and invaluable perspective from our time in our schools and communities. 

In 2022, a Colorado Youth Advisory Council policy proposal inspired House Bill 1052, known as Promoting Crisis Services to Students Act. This law mandates that 988 (a hotline for those in mental health crisis) is printed on the back of every single school ID. 

This year, one COYAC proposal led to the creation of House Bill 1059, Food Waste Reduction in Public Schools Act. If passed, this bill would support redistribution of packaged goods, composting programs, and other initiatives to reduce the amount of food wasted in schools across the state. 

My own proposal has inspired planned legislation for the 2026 session: From my experiences with a physical disability, I chose to focus on improving accessibility in school facilities to ensure that every student, regardless of ability, has equal opportunities to learn and compete. 

These three examples are far from a complete list. Colorado Youth Advisory Council students focus on countless other issues, such as addressing substance abuse, creating even more opportunities for youth voices in government, and increasing the availability of educational resources. A full list of proposals, and the laws they’ve inspired, is available at www.coyac.org. 

Many of these problems would not have the full variety of solutions that exist today, if not for the Colorado Youth Advisory Council. Not every state has a specific place for youth voice in government. As teens, we aren’t able to vote or contribute to policy decisions outside of our advisory role. Having a nonpartisan council designed and funded for youth is immensely valuable in developing the next generation of leaders.  

COYAC has given us the skills to advocate for change, an understanding of the nuances of politics and instilled the value of open dialogue. COYAC teaches us how to work with people with different backgrounds and views, persevere in the face of roadblocks, turn passion into tangible impacts, ask for help and advice (because nobody can do this alone), grow our leadership skills, and develop lifelong connections. Regardless of the path we follow after this program, we are better people because of our time on the Colorado Youth Advisory Council. 

I share these impacts to show why COYAC is crucial for youth-impacting policy. If our program is eliminated as part of state budget cuts, we lose one of the greatest opportunities available for teens in our state. 

Youth involvement in the legislature and the impact made on both sides of this partnership is worth so much. As a 40-seat council from across the state, we bring the perspectives of rural youth, disabled youth, low-income youth, native youth, and many more. We are athletes, artists, debaters, and above all else, we are passionate. 

COYAC members care about state policy, and even more about authentic youth voices. We learn from the broad spectrum of values and experiences within our council, we challenge our understanding of current issues, and together, COYAC students and legislators create a Colorado that better supports all constituents. We, as a state, are better prepared for our future. 

The Colorado Youth Advisory Council inspires hope and changes so many lives. These widespread effects are seen through a petition supporting the funding of the Colorado Youth Advisory Council, which has already collected 286 signatures. 

All of the policies, connections and growth detailed here are possible because of the budget COYAC has been allocated each year. It is crucial that this funding continue for the next fiscal year. 

While we understand the legislature’s challenge with a $1.2 billion budget deficit for next year, COYAC’s current annual budget is $50,000, or 0.0004% of the fiscal year 2024-25 general fund, which has a balance of $12,398,541,034. This small amount of money has led to a monumental amount of change, which will only continue to grow as long as COYAC is supported. 

I understand these decisions are challenging for everyone, and I ask the state legislature to please preserve funding for the Colorado Youth Advisory Council.

Kate Glover, of Fort Collins, is a junior in high school and a member of the Colorado Youth Advisory Council.

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