Senator Henry Stern hosted the first live stream Senate hearing recently about a bill aimed at lowering state’s voting age to 17.

The proposal, Senate Bill 596, is proposed to help “civically empower the next generation of citizens in California.”

Stern is a member of the California Millennial Caucus, which makes working on the issues facing millennials and future generations a priority, according to its website.

“Young people develop civic habits not in college — but while living in their community,” said Stern. “When I moved away to college, I lost that connection — I wasn’t as well informed on the local issues, so I wasn’t as motivated to vote.”

Related story: Stern Talks Lowering Voting Age, Youth Participation

Stern held the hearing with high school and college students at Reseda High, and allowed many to speak on issues they’d like addressed in their own communities.

“Young people are more active in participating more in civic and social life than ever,” said Stern,  “but it’s not translating to votes.”

Recent research has shown that 18-24 year olds had 22 percent less voter turnout than the general population, according to a news release from Stern’s office.

“Increased youth and millennial voter turnout is a key step to increasing future turnout for California and the nation as a whole,” according to the text of Senate Bill 596. “Without significant action to remove barriers to building the habits of the next generation of citizens, youth voter turnout disparities will persist, resulting in continued stagnancy in overall civic engagement and voter turnout rates.”

For more information on SB-596 click here