National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators

The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1989 by Larry Trujillo, then a Colorado state senator. It serves as a national association for elected Hispanic state legislators across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization states that it represents more than 450 Hispanic state legislators. NHCSL’s work is centered on policy development, legislative collaboration, leadership development, and advocacy concerning the quality of life and public interests of Hispanic communities. Rather than operating as a commercial product brand, it functions as a membership, policy, and representative institution. Its activities provide a forum where Hispanic legislators can exchange information, build professional networks, coordinate positions on shared concerns, and develop joint approaches to public policy. The caucus engages with the U.S. Congress, the White House, national advocacy organizations, business and labor interests, and other Hispanic organizations. It also describes itself as a liaison with sister Hispanic organizations throughout the United States and as a partner to Hispanic state or provincial legislators and their associations in Central and South America. This gives NHCSL a role that extends beyond individual state legislatures: it connects state-level elected officials with national policy discussions and with broader Hispanic legislative networks. Its stated institutional functions include acting as a catalyst for collective action, providing information exchange and member networking, offering leadership training, supporting public-private partnerships, and promoting cooperation among Hispanic legislators. The organization’s governance includes an executive committee and officers responsible for presidential leadership, membership, public policy, administration, regional coordination, and financial oversight. For the 2024–2025 leadership period, Representative Angela Romero of Utah served as president, with Representative Juan Candelaria of Utah as president-elect and Senator Nellie Pou of New Jersey as immediate past president. Other officers and regional chairs represented states and territories including Illinois, Texas, Washington, Puerto Rico, New York, Georgia, and Arizona. The listed staff included an executive director and directors responsible for legislation, policy and advocacy, communications, and meetings and membership services. NHCSL remains an active U.S.-based organization focused on representation, policy coordination, and leadership among Hispanic state legislators.

The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators was founded in 1989 by Larry Trujillo, who was then serving as a Colorado state senator. Its creation established a dedicated national organization for Hispanic members of state legislatures, creating a structure through which legislators could communicate, develop shared priorities, and advocate collectively. From its founding, NHCSL’s purpose has been linked to improving conditions and quality of life for Hispanic communities in the United States and its associated jurisdictions. Its role is not limited to representing legislators as a professional constituency. The organization also serves as a policy intermediary, bringing state lawmakers into contact with Congress, the White House, national advocacy groups, business and labor organizations, and other Hispanic institutions. NHCSL describes its operating model through several connected functions. It provides a forum for exchanging legislative information and building relationships among members; supports leadership training; acts as a catalyst for joint action on issues shared across Hispanic communities; promotes public-private partnerships; and maintains relationships with Hispanic organizations and legislative associations elsewhere in the Americas. These functions position the caucus between state-level policymaking and broader national or international Hispanic advocacy networks. The organization represents Hispanic state legislators from the states, commonwealths, and territories of the United States, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its stated membership reach exceeds 450 elected Hispanic state legislators. Through this network, NHCSL gives members a venue for coordinated policy discussion while preserving the state-level perspective of its participants. By the 2024–2025 leadership period, the organization was governed by a 17-member executive committee and a broader officer structure. Representative Angela Romero of Utah served as president, supported by a president-elect, an immediate past president, vice presidents for membership and public policy, a secretary, a treasurer, and regional chairs for the East, Midwest, South, and West. Staff leadership included an executive director and directors covering legislation and policy advocacy, communications, and meetings and membership services. The available reference material does not provide a complete year-by-year account of NHCSL programs, legislative positions, membership changes, funding, or individual advocacy campaigns. Its documented history nevertheless shows a continuing institutional focus on nonpartisan representation, leadership development, policy coordination, networking, and advocacy for Hispanic communities through the participation of elected state legislators.

• 2024

  2024–2025 leadership announced

  [1]National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislatorsen.wikipedia.org

  The organization listed its presidential officers, executive committee structure, regional chairs, and professional staff for the 2024–2025 period.

• 1989

  Organization founded

  [1]National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislatorsen.wikipedia.org

  Larry Trujillo, then a Colorado state senator, founded the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators.

A nonpartisan national policy and membership organization that amplifies the collective voice of Hispanic state legislators and supports coordinated action on issues affecting Hispanic communities.

• Policy advocacy · 1989

  Legislative advocacy and policy coordination

  NHCSL represents Hispanic state legislators in policy discussions and works with Congress, the White House, national advocacy groups, and other stakeholders. Its advocacy role is intended to support policies and procedures that improve quality of life for Hispanic communities.

• Membership services · 1989

  Member networking and information exchange

  The caucus provides a national forum for Hispanic state legislators to exchange information, develop relationships, and coordinate around issues of shared concern. The network spans U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• Leadership development · 1989

  Leadership training

  Leadership development is one of NHCSL’s stated institutional functions. The organization supports training and professional development intended to strengthen the effectiveness of Hispanic elected officials and their legislative networks.

1. 1National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislatorsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators official websitenhcsl.org