New Mexico Youth and Government empowers future leaders [Video]

The Roundhouse is usually filled with New Mexico’s lawmakers. But each April, high school students from across the state make their way to Santa Fe for their own legislative session.They spend months preparing, all leading up to three days at the Roundhouse. Students take part in all aspects of the legislative process, writing their own bills and sitting in the chairs of their elected leaders.“My bill this year is called the New Mexico Fair Labor Standards Act,” said Henry Carter, a youth representative at the conference. “It’s a collection of different labor reforms.”The latest: Political headlines from KOAT Action 7 NewsStudents present their bills on the House and Senate floors, make amendments, debate, then vote. If it passes, it heads to the youth governor’s desk. This year’s youth governor, Verity Gray, signed one bill called the Motorcycle Filtering Act.“It essentially legalizes motorcycle lane filtering and this is something that will …