Wisconsin State Representative Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milw) Introduced Hispanic Heritage Month 2025 Joint Resolution

Rep. Ortiz-Velez introduced Joint Resolution for Hispanic Heritage Month in Wisconsin.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

August 15, 2025

Madison, Wisconsin - On Friday, Representative Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milw) in a press release introduced a Joint Resolution LRB-4383/P1 to designate September 15 – October 15, 2025 as Hispanic Heritage Month in Wisconsin. According to Rep. Ortiz-Velez, this observance honors the hard work, service, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Wisconsinites who are helping strengthen our state's economy, enrich our communities, and uphold Wisconsin's proud traditions of faith, family, and patriotism. Across the state, Hispanic and Latino families are helping revitalize small towns and urban neighborhoods by opening businesses, buying homes, restoring vacant properties, and supporting local schools and churches.

Hispanic and Latino Wisconsinites share the same core values cherished across our state—faith, family, hard work, and service to community and country.

The Wisconsin legislature has never passed an Assembly Joint Resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month in the state, according to Richard Loeza, Senior Legislative Analyst from the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau in Madison.

Rep. Ortiz-Velez introduction of the Joint Resolution for Hispanic Heritage Month comes after she was left out as a co-author of a proposed Joint Resolution by the Wisconsin Latino Democrat Assembly Legislative Caucus spear headed by Wisconsin State Assembly Representative Priscilla Prado (D-Milw) and other members who had promised via email that Rep. Ortiz-Velez would also become an co-author as well, but Rep. Prado and the majority of the other members then decided that only members of the Latino Assembly Dem Caucus would be authors of the proposed resolution, and left co-sponsoring open to other state representatives and senators. According to Prado, Rep. Ortiz-Velez decided not to join the Assembly Latino Dem Caucus.

Rep. Ortiz-Velez says, that she doesn't join any legislative caucuses, because of certain membership restrictions and bi-laws that prevent her from being an independent Democrat that represents the largest Latino majority assembly district in the state.