Andorran Teens Approve Draft Laws on Housing, AI, Elderly Care at Youth Parliament Session

Students aged 14 to 16 from secondary schools across Andorra's educational systems presented and approved six draft laws during the 24th plenary session of the General Council of Youth, held Wednesday morning in the parliamentary chamber.

The proposals—three on open themes and three on assigned topics—focused on housing access, artificial intelligence, elderly care, natural disaster preparedness, and digital mental health. All passed with varying levels of support.

The housing measure, developed by students from Encamp's Andorran Secondary School, initially proposed capping rents at 500 euros monthly but was revised after committee debate incorporating 12 amendments. The final version sets reference prices per square meter: up to 10 euros for new-build homes with high energy efficiency, and 5 to under 10 euros for others, based on location, condition, and features. It exempts three in ten luxury properties, introduces rent aid for under-35s and vulnerable people, and aims to stabilize prices for youth emancipation. Debate highlighted concerns over definitions like "luxury" housing and market realities, with some suggesting public housing builds or minimum wage hikes instead. It passed 22-4 with two abstentions.

Two AI proposals gained approval. One requires responsible educational use through workshops and at least one secondary school activity per trimester. The other defines excessive or unjustified AI applications, sets usage principles, mandates government training, and creates a digital welfare information department per parish. Participants raised issues like AI-generated fake nude images.

Elderly care expansion calls for proximity services, equal opportunities, sufficient resources, and specialized caregiver training. The natural disaster plan, approved 12-8 with eight abstentions, tasks the government with a national risk map, emergency plan, mass alerts, drills, and a repair fund.

A digital mental health initiative targets social media harms and promotes responsible mobile use without bans.

The session marked new inclusivity, with visually impaired student Kevin Morais from Santa Coloma's Andorran Secondary School presenting the final proposal in braille, assisted by classmate Roger Sánchez—the first such participation.

Post-plenary, prizes from the 17th Poster Contest went to Lena Coll from Sagrada Família school, with runners-up Martina Comella (Sagrada Família) and Xènia Ramírez from Ordino's Andorran Secondary School.