Senate honors Nevada Youth Legislature, hears that youth bill on student substance-use interventions will be presented

Senators on March 5, 2025, recognized participants in the Nevada Youth Legislature, presented commencement cords to student legislators and noted that the youth legislature will present a bill—Senate Bill 254—on policies for student substance-use interventions that afternoon.

Senator Cannizzaro opened the recognition, saying, “I am very pleased to have with us today all of our Nevada youth legislators who are each seated with their respective legislators…,” and described graduation cords in silver and blue that students will be able to wear at their high school graduations. Cannizzaro and other senators introduced their respective youth legislators and presented the cords on the Senate floor.

Senators introduced a roster of youth legislators and gave brief biographical notes: Kathleen McCarthy (West Career and Technical Academy), described by her senator as the original author and primary sponsor of this year’s Nevada Youth Legislature bill, SB 254, which establishes policies for substance-use interventions for students; Sophie Kane (Faith Lutheran; noted for organizing hygiene kit distribution and youth service projects); Owen Chang (Davidson Academy; speech, debate and college-level electrical engineering coursework); Jolie Wynne (vice chair of the Nevada Youth Legislature, advocate for universal free school meals and student safety initiatives); Mackenzie (West Career and Technical Academy; engineering student and student-visionary candidate); Torren Wolf (Southeast Career and Technical Academy); Jordan Chong (Davidson Academy; youth legislator since 2003 in the transcript record); Matthew Chen (Sierra Vista High School); Ethan Cohen (founder of his school’s Jewish Student Union and advocate on antisemitism and Holocaust education); Eric Conyers (Canyon Springs; focus on education and mental health); Daniel Oakesgarden (Coral Academy of Science; quiz bowl captain and speech/debate vice president); and Atara Reganti (Sage Ridge School; juvenile justice interest). Senators provided short remarks about each student’s community service, academic achievements, and youth advocacy work.

Senator Cannizzaro also recognized the Nevada Youth Legislature Board and thanked volunteers and former senators who support the program; she asked that the record reflect the students’ acknowledgments, and moved — and the Senate agreed — that the recognitions be recorded in the journal. The Senate then continued with other remarks on the floor.

The Senate also welcomed visiting delegations and guests during floor remarks: representatives from the Nevada Association of School Boards (including president Michael Walker and executive director Rick Harris), nearly 60 local school board trustees and members; Special Olympics Nevada and a list of named athlete attendees; the Nevada Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents and CCSD School Board Trustee Ramona Esparza Straffigen; and leaders of the Nevada Women’s Fund, who were noted for more than four decades of scholarships and investment in women’s education and career advancement.

Why it matters: The Nevada Youth Legislature gives high school students hands-on legislative experience and the opportunity to draft and present bills in the Capitol. The student-authored SB 254 will enter the formal committee process when the youth members present that measure to the Senate Committee on Education later the same day, providing a direct example of youth civic engagement within the legislative process.