Southampton Youth Leaders Excels at Youth & Government Conference • Southampton, NY

The Town of Southampton Youth Bureau participated in the 90th Annual YMCA Youth and Government Conference, held March 20 – 22, 2026 in Albany, NY. The Youth Bureau’s delegation, comprised of thirty students from Westhampton Beach, Hampton Bays, Pierson, and Southampton High Schools, spent the past six months researching real-world issues and writing their own bills to propose changes to New York State law.

The YMCA Youth and Government program is a statewide educational program that gives students the opportunity to experience how government works by taking on the roles of lawmakers, debating issues, and voting on legislation.

At the conference, students represented the Town of Southampton Youth Bureau by presenting and debating their bills in committee hearing rooms and in the chambers of the New York State Assembly. The delegation submitted seven bills which included Bill #10, Bill #26, Bill #47, Bill #55, Bill #64, Bill #86, and Bill #96, and all seven successfully passed in their respective chambers. Notably, Bill #10, which focused on setting standards for water usage by artificial intelligence data centers, passed unanimously.

The student-written legislation addressed a range of important topics, including regulating artificial intelligence in political advertising (Bill #26), recognizing lifeguards as first responders (Bill #47), requiring attorneys to complete pro bono work (Bill #55), increasing employee representation on corporate boards (Bill #64), allowing high school students mental health days (Bill #86), and reducing out-of-pocket costs for Alzheimer’s medications (Bill #96).

Five bills earned the “Seal of State Approval,” a distinction recognizing excellence in research, organization, and clarity in legislative writing. In addition, Bill #55 and Bill #64 ranked among the top 10 bills in committees, while Bill #10 and Bill #96 were endorsed by the Youth Governor.

As part of the broader Youth and Government experience, students also participated in a service-learning initiative that emphasizes community involvement and civic engagement. Throughout the program, students tracked both their community service contributions and their civic learning efforts, earning credits for their participation. At the conference, several Town of Southampton Youth Bureau delegates were recognized with commemorative pins for achieving the highest levels of service and engagement, highlighting their commitment not only to leadership in government, but also to making a positive impact in their communities.

Students were also recognized for their individual achievements. Clare Loesch was named Outstanding Delegate, while Kannon Davis, Casey Farrell, and Sebastian Rivera were recognized as Best Debaters. Allie Barry and Casey Farrell were nominated to attend the Conference on National Affairs (CONA), a national YMCA program where top student delegates from across the country present and debate legislation. Casey Farrell was also elected Deputy Speaker of Freedom Assembly for next year’s conference.

“This year was not only the largest YMCA Youth and Government conference in New York State, but also the largest delegation in the history of the Town of Southampton’s program,” stated Peter Strecker, Program Coordinator and Assistant Director of the Town of Southampton Youth Bureau. “Our students demonstrated strong research, confidence in debate, and a commitment to developing practical solutions to real-world issues. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and how well they represented our Southampton Town community.”

For more information about the Town of Southampton Youth Bureau’s Youth and Government program, call (631) 702-2425 or visit www.southamptontownny.gov/youthbureau.