Colorado legislators created a program seventeen years ago to work directly with teenagers on issues that impact young people. Around 350 middle and high schoolers have participated since, developing proposals resulting in state laws to provide college financial aid for foster youth, give free menstrual products to students and study disproportionate discipline in schools, among many others. In 2021, late House Minority Leader Hugh McKean called incorporating youth voices via the program his “greatest honor.” But the Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC) may soon be eliminated, as legislators look to slash COYAC’s $50,000 annual budget to help address the state’s $1.2 billion budget shortfall. The Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a bill on Friday, March 7, to allocate just $5,000 to COYAC next fiscal year, allowing the current group of teens to complete the program but not funding any future work. According to House Speaker Julie McCluskie, lawmakers have to “make some hard...