Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC) applications are open through June 5 for youth ages 14-19 who want to make a difference in Colorado
The state legislature’s nonpartisan Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC) seeks new members, ages 14-19, for the 2025-27 term. COYAC will host a virtual information session on May 29, and applications close on June 5. Learn more at coyac.org.
The Colorado legislature created COYAC to give youth a voice in state lawmaking. The 40 students work together to identify problems facing youth, divide themselves into policy committees, conduct research and outreach, and seek feedback from their peers and communities. The youth write problem/solution memos with policy recommendations to present to state legislators each summer. Recent COYAC proposals inspired new Colorado laws supporting youth mental health, reducing food waste in schools, treating substance abuse, preventing disordered eating, involving youth in education standards review, addressing disproportionate discipline in public schools, and more.
Open seats for 2025-27:
One seat for a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
State senate districts 1, 4, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 35 (Find your senate district)
Two at-large seats for rural applicants
What students gain from COYAC
Practical knowledge about how laws are made in Colorado
Training and practice in nonpartisanship and civility
Leadership, negotiation skills, and experience working and learning with diverse groups of people across Colorado
Personal accountability, accomplishment, and confidence
Skills in public speaking, research, and outreach
Opportunity to build relationships in Colorado government, policy, and advocacy
New friends!
COYAC members commit to
Serve a two-year term from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027. (Members may serve more than one term.)
Attend in-person meetings (Limited travel funding is available based on financial need)
Retreat (Saturday-Sunday, August 23-24, 2025)
Day at the Capitol (Friday, April 24, 2026)
Awards & senior send-off dinner (Saturday, June 6, 2026)
Attend virtual meetings on Google Meet or Zoom
July 20, 8:00-9:20 p.m.: New member orientation on Zoom
All-COYAC meetings – Once a month (evening)
Policy committee meetings – Fully participate in one student-led policy committee. Committees choose their own weekly meeting times to accomplish the COYAC’s goals of advising and providing recommendations to members of the Colorado legislature. Each year, students conduct research and outreach to write problem-solution policy memos to present to legislators. Learn more at coyac.org/our-work.
Communicate with students and youth organizations in your state senate district about youth-related issues and the work of COYAC.
