Welcome to the advocacy arm of Young People in Recovery. This is where awareness turns into action—and where every voice matters.
What is advocacy
Advocacy is the act of supporting, recommending, or speaking out on behalf of policies and practices that create a more just and supportive world for people in recovery. At YPR, advocacy includes:
- Championing harm reduction and recovery support policies
- Engaging with lawmakers and community leaders
- Educating the public on issues affecting young people in recovery
Why advocacy matters
Advocacy is essential because it:
- Changes policy: Laws shape access to recovery resources, harm reduction tools, housing, education, and jobs.
- Elevates lived experience: The voices of people in recovery can shift narratives and reduce stigma.
- Empowers communities: Through civic engagement, we help build resilient recovery ecosystems from the ground up.
2026 legislative impact report
Recovery Voices. Real Policy. Lasting Change.
Young People in Recovery (YPR) chapters across the country demonstrated the power of grassroots advocacy by reporting a remarkable 622 advocacy initiatives at the local, state, and federal levels. These efforts included policy engagement, community education, recovery awareness events, stakeholder meetings, legislative outreach, and initiatives designed to expand recovery support services.
Colorado chapters led the way with 229 advocacy activities, while California surpassed by reporting 270 initiatives and Kentucky contributed 84 advocacy efforts, reflecting YPR’s growing national impact. YPR volunteers also played a critical role in advancing recovery-friendly policies and community engagement, with the Ohio Volunteer Chapter reporting 10 advocacy initiatives and the Utah Chapter reporting 17 initiatives during the first half of the year.
Across the nation, YPR members engaged policymakers, shared lived experience, educated communities about recovery, and advocated for expanded access to recovery support services. These efforts amplified the voices of people in recovery and their families while advancing policies that strengthen recovery across communities. With 622 advocacy initiatives reported in just over five months, YPR continues to drive meaningful systems change and ensure recovery remains a national priority.
622
Advocacy initiatives
3
States leading nationally
9+
Federal bills supported
4
Bills signed into law
Recovery Capital in Action
Recovery happens when individuals have access to resources, opportunities, relationships, and communities that support long-term wellness. YPR chapters worked tirelessly throughout the 2026 legislative session to strengthen those systems nationwide and to elevate youth recovery voices in state and federal policy discussions. Their efforts helped advance legislation supporting housing, employment, behavioral health care, peer support, and family stability. YPR advocacy focused on strengthening all three domains of recovery capital.
Personal Capital
Housing · Employment · Healthcare · Reentry support · Financial stability
Social Capital
Peer support · Recovery community · Family preservation · Community connections
Cultural Capital
Reducing stigma · Evidence-based care · Expanding recovery representation in policy
State & National Highlights
Click each state to see what YPR chapters accomplished during the 2026 legislative session.
YPR’s advocacy reaches beyond statehouses into national policy, advocating for treatment funding, housing equity, youth prevention, and workforce development on Capitol Hill.
| Bill / Priority | Description |
|---|---|
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Expanding access to evidence-based treatment and reducing overdose deaths nationwide. |
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Continued federal investment in prevention, treatment, and recovery support services. |
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Youth Prevention Funding |
Continued advocating for investments in prevention, early intervention, and youth recovery supports. |
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Workforce development and recovery employment opportunities for people in recovery. |
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Advocated for policies that reduce housing discrimination and expand recovery-supportive housing opportunities. |
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YPR successfully opposed this bill. It did not advance. |
Track all federal legislation at congress.gov → https://www.congress.gov
In California, YPR advocates focused on overdose prevention, peer support integration, workforce development, and strengthening behavioral health systems. There were 270 advocacy initiatives reported.
| STATUS | BILL | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
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⏳ In Senate |
School Safety & Opioid Overdose Prevention Act — focuses on overdose prevention and school safety measures to protect youth and improve emergency response capacity.
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⏳ In Senate |
Workforce Training for Opioid Overdose Reversal — expands employment-related training opportunities related to opioid overdose response and prevention.
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❌ Did not pass |
Medi-Cal Enhanced Care Management Peer Support Specialists — sought to strengthen peer support integration within California’s Enhanced Care Management system. Advanced the conversation.
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With 229 advocacy initiatives, YPR members in Colorado played a leading role in advancing policies that strengthen recovery support systems, improve reentry outcomes, and expand access to behavioral health care.
With 229 advocacy initiatives, YPR members in Colorado played a leading role in advancing policies that strengthen recovery support systems, improve reentry outcomes, and expand access to behavioral health care.
| STATUS | BILL | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
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✅ Passed |
Recovery Housing — improves quality and accountability in recovery residences. Expands access to safe recovery housing statewide.
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✅ Passed |
Transportation Provider Data Reporting — improves access to treatment, recovery meetings, and healthcare. Expands MAT access including in jail settings.
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✅ Passed |
Reentry Support & ID Access — expands access to state identification documents. Provides release assistance for individuals leaving incarceration.
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✅ Passed |
Behavioral Health & Justice Reform — expands behavioral health treatment approaches within justice settings. Strengthens pathways to recovery over punishment.
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🛑 Opposed & failed |
THC Beverage Regulation — would have allowed over-limit THC co-sold with alcohol. YPR successfully opposed. Bill did not pass. |
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❌ Failed |
Alcohol Impact & Recovery Enterprises — would have leveraged alcohol revenue to fund treatment centers and recovery support programs. |
Colorado House Champions for Recovery Policy (2026)
During the 2026 session, dozens of Colorado legislators voted consistently in alignment with recovery-focused policy positions tracked by the COPA scorecard.
Senate Champions - 100% Score
- Judy Amabile
- Matt Ball
- Jeff Bridges
- James Coleman
- Lisa Cutter
- Jessie Danielson
- Lindsey Daugherty
- Tony Exum
- Julie Gonzales
- Nick Hinrichsen
- Iman Jodeh
- William Lindstedt
- Robert Rodriguez
- Katie Wallace
- Mike Weissman
Senate strong supporters - 80–83%
- Adrienne Benavidez
- Cathy Kipp
- Chris Kolker
- Janice Marchman
- Kyle Mullica
- Dylan Roberts
- Marc Snyder
- Tom Sullivan
House champions - 100% Score
- Mary Bradfield
- Kyle Brown
- Chad Clifford
- Monica Duran
- Cecelia Espenoza
- Meg Froelich
- Jamie Jackson
- Sheila Lieder
- Bob Marshall
- Manny Rutinel
- Tammy Story
- Elizabeth Velasco
House strong supporters - 80–86%
- Jennifer Bacon
- Andrew Boesenecker
- Sean Camacho
- Michael Carter
- Regina English
- Lorena Garcia
- Lori Goldstein
- Eliza Hamrick
- Junie Joseph
- Mandy Lindsay
- Meghan Lukens
- Matthew Martinez
- Tisha Mauro
- Julie McCluskie
- Karen McCormick
- Kenny Nguyen
- Amy Paschal
- Jacque Phillips
- Naquetta Ricks
- Gretchen Rydin
- Emily Sirota
- Lesley Smith
- Rebekah Stewart
- Katie Stewart
- Brianna Titone
- Jenny Willford
- Steven Woodrow
- Yara Zokaie
Bipartisan recovery allies
Republican representatives who supported many recovery-focused measures:
- Carlos Barron
- Jarvis Caldwell
- Ty Winter
- Rick Taggart
- Dan Woog
- Marc Catlin
- Barbara Kirkmeyer
- Janice Rich
- Byron Pelton
To see how your legislator scored → Click here
Kentucky YPR chapters had one of their most active legislative sessions to date, advancing recovery-supportive policies focused on peer support, family stability, treatment access, and recovery housing.
Kentucky YPR members also shared peer workforce stories, highlighted rural workforce shortages, advocated for youth-specific peer support roles, and applied for participation in the statewide peer support workgroup.
Kentucky has had 84 advocacy efforts tracked so far in 2026.
| STATUS | BILL | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
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✅ Adopted |
Recovery Advocacy Day — both chambers formally recognized February 11, 2026 as Recovery Advocacy Day, elevating recovery voices statewide
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✅ Signed into law |
Community-based alternatives to incarceration for eligible parents. Connects families to therapy, recovery services, and job training. Signed April 10, 2026.
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✅ Signed into law |
Peer Support Workforce Standards — requires certified Alcohol and Drug Peer Support Specialists. Establishes a statewide Peer Support Workgroup.
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✅ Adopted |
SUD Funding Transparency — creates a statewide fiscal map of all substance use disorder programs and funding sources. |
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❌ Advanced but did not pass |
SB56 |
Non-Opioid Pain Treatment Access — bipartisan support but failed due to a last-minute amendment. Reduces unnecessary opioid exposure for people in recovery. |
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❌ Advanced but did not pass |
SB82 / HB153 |
MAT Access Modernization — reduces outdated regulatory barriers. Advanced further than in previous years with strong bipartisan interest. |
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❌ Advanced but did not pass |
SB290 — Recovery Housing |
Sought to improve quality, safety, and accountability in recovery housing statewide. Significantly elevated the conversation. |
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🎯 2027 priority |
HB279 — Mental Health Parity |
Modernizes Kentucky’s mental health parity law for fair behavioral health insurance coverage. Adds enforcement tools and creates an Advisory Council. |
Heading into 2027: HB279 Mental Health Parity remains a top legislative priority. YPR Kentucky will continue advocating for equitable behavioral health coverage for all Kentuckians.
Voices From the Field
Chapter leads in their own words
Hear directly from the people doing the work. YPR chapter leads from Kentucky, Ohio, and California share the advocacy they’ve carried into their communities and statehouses.
Sacramento, CA
Richmond, KY
“I felt empowered to testify because sharing these final steps can make a difference and save lives.”
“I use my voice to speak up for those who are often unseen and overlooked.”
Lima, OH
Adams County, CO
“The first part of advocacy is getting over the fear.”
“Substance use disorder is a community issue. It’s a we problem, and it takes all of us to fix it.”
Take Action on a national level
California Residents - Take action
Get involved in ongoing campaigns:
Colorado Residents - Take action
Get involved in ongoing campaigns:
Advocacy in Action: Impact Highlights
Arapahoe County, CO – Good Samaritan Law Campaign
In partnership with local leaders, the Arapahoe chapter of YPR educated 192 community members across the county on the protections and importance of Colorado’s Good Samaritan Law. This campaign has:
- Increased overdose reporting confidence
- Connected communities with naloxone resources
- Inspired local engagement and media attention
National chapter highlights
- Louisville, KY – Mobilized a city-wide Day of Action for fentanyl testing strip access
- Lima, OH – Continues to educate the population in recovery on harm reduction and advocates for safer use and keeping people alive through Growbriety
Want to feature your chapter?
Share your chapters’ advocacy stories here to be featured on the advocacy hub.
What we know - clarifying facts & impacts
What's next - understanding the timeline & process
What can we do - mobilizing action & solutions
Learn more
Questions?
Have questions? Can’t find what you’re looking for?
Reach out to our Director of Advocacy at coreen.johnson@youngpeopleinrecovery.org for further assistance.