Member Biographies

Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self (WA-21) is the Secretary of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, and previously served as West Region Chair. She has represented the 21st Legislative District since 2013, and is a member of the Washington House leadership team, serving as Majority Caucus chair.

Rep. Veronica Paiz is Michigan State Representative for House District 11. She currently serves in NHCSL Executive Committee.

Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk (MD-21) served as the East Region Chair of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators between 2021 and 2023. Prior to this role, she served as Chair of NHCSL's Law and Criminal Justice Task Force and as a member of the NHCSL Executive Committee. In 2018, Delegate Peña-Melnyk was awarded the NHCSL John S. Martínez Legislator of the Year Award for her work in the Maryland State Legislature and for tackling some of NHCSL's most complex resolutions in many years, including cannabis and gun policy, by building consensus support for innovative policies.

Congresswoman Nellie Pou (NJ) is the Immediate Past President of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators. Her two-year term as President began at the end of 2021. Prior to her election as President-Elect on December 5, 2019, she served as NHCSL's East Region Chair. In 2024, she became the first Latina to represent New Jersey a the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rep. Geraldo Reyes Jr. has represented the 75th Assembly District of Waterbury in the Connecticut House of Representatives since 2016.

Sen. Carmelo J. Ríos-Santiago served as President of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators. In early 2018, he was elected President of NHCSL after having served as Vice-President for Membership, Parliamentarian and Vice-President. Senator Ríos-Santiago has served in the Puerto Rico Senate since 2005 and is the current Senate Majority Leader.

Senator Teresa Ruiz was the first Puerto Rican elected to the New Jersey Senate where she currently serves as Majority Leader.

Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero (NM-13) served as Treasurer of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators during the 2021-2023 period. Rep. Roybal Caballero has served in the New Mexico State Legislature since 2013. Rep. Roybal Caballero previously served as National Treasurer of LULAC (2015-2018), the oldest Latino civil rights organization in the U.S., founded in 1929.

Yudelka Tapia is serving her first term in the New York State Assembly representing the 86th Assembly District.

Assemblywoman Selena Torres (NV-3) is the youngest woman serving in the Nevada Legislature and is committed to creating policy that meets the needs of Nevada students. She holds a Master’s in Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.