As lawmakers, advocates, and community leaders prepare to gather in Albany from February 13–15, 2026, the 55th annual New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators Legislative Conference remains one of the most influential policy and community-engagement events for communities of color across New York.
The three-day conference—often referred to as Caucus Weekend—brings together elected officials, nonprofit leaders, educators, and residents for a series of policy discussions, workshops, and networking sessions designed to shape the legislative priorities that impact everyday New Yorkers.
The centerpiece of the weekend is expected on Saturday, February 14, when the largest number of attendees traditionally participate in forums addressing pressing issues such as housing insecurity, healthcare disparities, criminal justice reform, economic opportunity, education equity, and minority-owned business development. These conversations are designed to move beyond theory and influence real policy outcomes affecting working families across the state.
Historically, the conference has also served as a gathering place where organizations and institutions meet directly with legislators to advocate for funding, programming, and community initiatives. Previous conferences have included workshops bringing together museums, educational institutions, and civic groups to discuss how cultural organizations can serve as anchors for community engagement and equity.
The significance of this annual event is rooted in decades of political organizing. The New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus traces its origins back to the 1960s, when lawmakers united to ensure that underrepresented communities had a stronger voice in state government. Since then, the caucus has grown into one of the most influential alliances in Albany, representing millions of New Yorkers and advocating on issues ranging from education access to economic justice.
Today, the organization’s mission continues to focus on bringing residents of minority backgrounds into policy discussions that directly impact their daily lives and long-term economic stability. The association itself was later formalized as a nonprofit entity to promote community development, racial tolerance, and the overall social welfare of diverse populations across New York State.
In recent years, the caucus has also used its collective political influence to launch policy agendas aimed at addressing persistent racial and economic disparities affecting Black and other marginalized communities statewide.
For communities like Southeast Queens, the weekend carries particular importance. With buses of legislators, advocates, and constituents traveling to Albany, the gathering offers a rare opportunity for neighborhood voices—from Jamaica to St. Albans—to be heard directly by decision-makers shaping statewide policy. Ensuring strong representation from Southeast Queens can help elevate local priorities such as housing affordability, small-business support, infrastructure investment, and education equity within statewide conversations.
As New York continues to evolve demographically and politically, Caucus Weekend remains more than a conference—it is a working space where coalition-building, advocacy, and policy development intersect. For many attendees, February 14 is not just the busiest day on the schedule—it is the moment when community concerns are translated into legislative action that can influence the direction of New York for the year ahead.
Below are some FREE BUSES Sponsored by our Local Legislators that you may still be able to take advantage of.
