Empowering Our Communities: A Recap of the 23rd Annual Summit

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This past November, NHCSL hosted its 23rd Annual Summit in Oklahoma City, a location chosen to highlight one of the Nation’s fastest-growing Latino regions. The gathering marked a pivotal moment for Hispanic state legislators to align on a forward-looking policy agenda that is already shaping this year’s legislative priorities nationwide.

Throughout the Summit, legislators engaged in substantive discussions on key policy areas affecting Latino communities, including the role of financial technology in expanding financial inclusion, strategies to modernize the workforce, and solutions to improve energy affordability. Other sessions explored the need for greater transparency in medical debt and addressed the enormous health risks of compounded obesity medications that have not been vetted by the FDA for safety, efficacy, or quality.

A standout moment of the convening was a landmark discussion on tribal sovereignty at the Oklahoma State Capitol, underscoring the important intersection between Hispanic and Native American communities. The Summit concluded with a powerful conversation on Hispanic contributions to American identity, featuring Ambassador Ángeles Moreno Bau of Spain, Antonio Tijerino of Hispanic Heritage Foundation, and Senator Teresa Ruiz of New Jersey, moderated by Lionel Ramos of KOSU.

During the Noche de Celebración the 2025 Legislator of the Year Award was presented to New Jersey legislators Sen. Teresa Ruiz, and Asms. Julio Marenco, Carmen Morales and Annette Quijano, for their work in mandating Latino history instruction in schools. The Texas Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC) received the Trailblazer Award for its efforts to combat discriminatory redistricting, and Ivan Jaime of Walmart was recognized as Partner of the Year.

In keeping with NHCSL’s commitment to giving back to communities, the Summit concluded with a service initiative in partnership with the Latino Community Development Agency. Together, volunteers distributed Thanksgiving groceries and gifts to 400 families, reaching an estimated 4,000 Oklahomans. This vital work was made possible through the generous support of our corporate partners: Walmart, Whole Foods, and Amazon.

A key outcome of the Summit was the approval of a broad slate of policy resolutions for 2025, reflecting our legislator’s shared commitment to advancing solutions for the most pressing challenges facing their constituents.