2025 KYA Signature Sponsors
2025 KYA In Kind Sponsors
Interested in becoming a 2026 / 27 sponsor?
Contact Abbey Costello to learn more.
General Assembly
COMMITTEE CHAIRS • DOOR KEEPERS • DELEGATES • BILL SPONSORS
General Assembly Roles
General Assembly and Debate Coordinator | Nick Wrobleski at nick@kyymca.org.
The General Assembly is the legislative body of the Kentucky Government. At KYA, members of the General Assembly include:
Committee Chairs | Pro Tempore
Appointed by Delegation | 1 or 2 per delegation | Grades 8/12
- Requirements to Register a Student as a Committee Chair:
- Delegations of any size may appoint up to 2 committee chairs - "First Chair" and "Chair Alternate". Chair Alternates will be assigned to a Committee if space allows.
- Must have at least one year KYA or KUNA experience.
- Requirements of a Committee Chair:
- Must attend one of our KYA Committee Chair Trainings in the fall.
- If you cannot attend training, you must watch a recording of it and email Nick Wrobleski (nick@kyymca.org) to confirm you have.
- Must Join Google Classroom and complete the Chair quiz receiving a score of 10/10. Students have unlimited attempts at the quiz.
- Attend the mandatory Chair Meeting on the first day of your conference.
- Must attend one of our KYA Committee Chair Trainings in the fall.
Doorkeepers | Up to 2 Students per Delegation
- Doorkeepers are tasked with monitoring entrances and exits from a room and the door docket during Committees and Chambers
- Doorkeepers are allowed and encouraged to speak and participate during debate.
- There is no grade requirement for Doorkeepers, but older students may receive priority in assignments.
Delegates
- Delegate Roles - Delegates serve as State Representatives and Senators. Delegates rank, debate, and vote on bills that are written and sponsored by delegates from each school.
- Delegate Types
- Commonwealth - These are students who are older and/or have more conference experience.
- Bluegrass - These are students who are younger and/or have less conference experience.
- Delegate Eligibility (see chart)
| Year | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Year | BG | BG | B/C* | BG | BG | B/C* | CW |
| 2nd Year | - | CW | CW | BG | BG | CW | CW |
| 3rd Year | - | - | CW | BG | BG | CW | CW |
| 4th Year | - | - | - | BG | B/C* | CW | CW |
| 5th Year | - | - | - | - | B/C* | CW | CW |
| 6th Year | - | - | - | - | - | CW | CW |
| 7th Year | - | - | - | - | - | - | CW |
Bill Sponsors | Up to 4 Students per Resolution
Advisors select students who are responsible for the following tasks:
- Bill Writing & Research – Lead the research and writing of the resolution. Students can write their bills on an any issue they would like discussed by their peers in the House or Senate. Sponsors can review the 2026 Youth Governor's Agenda for topic ideas. (agenda will be linked here once it is ready)
- Presenting Bill– Give an opening and closing statement and answering non-debatable technical questions during debate. Opening and closing statements must remain under 3 minutes total and cannot include any use of props during their speech, nor give reference or require audience participation.
- Appropriate Bills – The Kentucky YMCA Youth Association our student led programs and the creativity of our teens. However, to respect the integrity of debate the work bill sponsors have put toward their bills, the KYYMCA is allowed to reject any bills submitted that are inappropriate and/or do not have decorum.
- Number of Bills - Each delegation can sponsor a max of five Commonwealth Bills and up to five Bluegrass Bills; the number of each is dependent upon the number of students registered for GA roles at each level (see chart below). Only Commonwealth Students can present Commonwealth Bills and only Bluegrass Students can present Bluegrass Bills.
# of CW Delegates*
1-15
16-30
31-45
45-60
61+
# of CW Bills
1
2
3
4
5 (Max)
*Total includes: Delegates, Bill Sponsors & Doorkeepers
General Assembly Resources
- 2026 Presiding Officer's Agenda – Provides ideas for KYA bill topics
- Debate Guide Includes debate rules and full procedural script.
- KYA Committee Chair Script
- KYA Bill Drafting Guide
- KYA Sample Bill Ranking Sheet
- KYA Bill Book Archive (1946-Present)
- The Legislative Research Commission (HS CW Only)
- Bill sponsors can meet with presiding officers in the fall to get feedback on their bills from qualified students!
- Only Commonwealth bills that are Constitutional can be given the LRC Seal of approval on their bill in their conference bill book!
- Bills must be submitted by the registration deadline to be eligible for the LRC Seal.
- 2026 Legislative Research Commission Dates Coming Soon!
General Assembly Agenda Overview
Committee Hearings | Day 1
Commonwealth Delegates go to Committees. Bill Sponsors present their bills, then delegates debate and rank the bills to determine which bills are debated in the Highest Ranked Chambers on Day 2.
To rank bills, delegates use an online Ranking Form – one online form submitted per school in each committee – and rank bills on the following criteria (1-5 on each, poor to excellent):
- Evidence of Research – Was this issue well-researched, including any applicable policies already in place?
- Feasibility – Is it possible for the state government to implement this law?
- Impact– Is this policy issue is impactful enough to create a law?
- Presentation – Is there evidence of training by the Sponsors? Were they persuasive?
- Creativity – Are the proposed ideas, actions and solutions unique?
House/Senate Chamber Debate | Day 2
Based on ranking, all bills are debated in the full House/Senate Chamber. Bills are voted on and either passed or defeated. If a bill is passed by one chamber, the Sponsors go present in the other. If both chambers pass a bill, the Sponsors sign-up to meet the Governor.
Meeting with Governor | Day 2
Once a bill passes the House and Senate Chambers, Sponsors sign-up to meet with the Governor. Sponsors have 3 minutes to present to the Governor, followed by questions and discussion that help determine whether the Governor will sign or veto the bill.
Veto Override | Day 3
If the Governor vetoes a bill, the Sponsors can try to override the veto by adding their bill to the Override docket. Bills on the docket require a 2/3 majority vote of the Assembly to be heard. If heard, the Governor and Sponsors each get 1 min. to speak before voting. A simple majority vote is required to override the veto and enact the bill into law.