News Post

A record turnout of 500-plus Louisiana high school students participated in the 64th annual YMCA Youth Legislature Conference, held December 4-6 at the Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge. The annual three-day mock-legislative session engages high school students from across the state at every level of state government. Students assume roles in all three branches of government as they debate issues of local and state importance, gaining first-hand knowledge of the democratic process and developing leadership and presiding skills. Youth Legislature is a student-led conference, with state board officials elected by their peers to plan and preside over each event.

Participants prepared for the conference by authoring legislation on a topic of their choice. At the conference, they presented and defended their idea as it made its way through the legislative process and potentially to the governor’s desk. Members of the Supreme Court challenged the constitutionality of proposed legislation, legislation passed at previous conferences and even current Louisiana state laws.

Forty-eight members of the SJA Youth and Government Club attended. Allison Riley served on the state board this year, having been elected to the position of secretary of state during the 2024 conference.

There were 260 bills presented over the course of three days, with 54 making it to debate. The SJA delegation had five bills advance to debate, and Senate Bill 321, authored by Ava Thevenot and Lorelei Robinson, passed both houses and was signed into law. The bill is entitled Require Equal Athletic Resources in School.

Two SJA students ran for office and were elected to the 2026 state board. Camille Mendler will serve as president pro tempore of the Senate, and Abby Eldredge will serve as secretary of state.

Aimee Cronan is the moderator of the Youth and Government Club.