The Connecticut Legislative Black and Puerto Rican Caucus was formed in 1976 and was led by Chairman and state Representative Clyde Billington, Jr. of Hartford.

The Caucus was formed to assist minorities across the state in becoming more involved in the political process as citizens, provide the proper tools and information needed to potentially obtain political office, and to boost the economic potential and outcomes for minorities through empowerment, knowledge, and awareness.

The 2023 membership is comprised of Blacks and Latinos that hold political office in the Connecticut General Assembly, with the current breakdown of the Caucus featuring thirty-three Representatives and seven Senators. Black and Puerto Rican Caucus members proudly carry on the tradition of representing and uplifting minority constituents and working towards the common good for all residents of Connecticut. The Caucus aims to accomplish the following:

  1. To seek the fulfillment of goals and aspirations of African and Latino American communities.
  2. To research and plan the appropriate administrative actions designed to improve the living, housing, working, health, educational and economic conditions of African and Latino Americans.
  3. To combat community deterioration in African and Latino American communities, thereby, lessening the burden on local government.
  4. To develop knowledge and understanding of the problems, concerns and conditions facing African and Latino Americans, as well as, the strategies to improve these problems.
  5. To seek and to foster interstate cooperation and to advance the effectiveness, independence and integrity of respective legislatures as equal, coordinated branches of government in states, territories, possessions and commonwealths of the United States of America.
  6. To stimulate and develop economic growth of minority owned and operated businesses within the African and Latino American communities.
  7. To expand the occupational and educational outlooks for the African and Latino American communities.
  8. To network within governmental agencies, instrumentalities, organizations, associations and/or individuals, including the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL), the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) and the National Latino Elected Officials (NLEO), in order to improve the plight of the African and Latino American communities.