Alaska Stat. § 18.80. § 18.80.290
Local human rights commissions
Operative Text
(a) The legislative body of a municipality may, by ordinance or resolution, authorize the establishment of membership in and support of a local human rights commission. The number and qualifications of the members of a local commission and their terms and method of appointment or removal shall be as determined by the legislative body, except that a member may not hold office in a political party. (b) The legislative body of a municipality has the authority to appropriate funds in amounts as considered necessary for the purpose of contributing to the operation of a local commission, including the payment of its share of the salary of an investigator or staff member acting jointly for it and one or more other local commissions. (c) The local commission has the power to appoint employees and staff as it considers necessary to fulfill its purpose, including the power to appoint an investigator or staff member to act jointly for it and one or more other local commissions. (d) The governing body of a municipality has the authority under AS 29.20.320 to grant to local commissions powers and duties similar to those exercised by the commission under the provisions of this chapter.
Alaska Statute AS 18.80.290 establishes the framework under which municipal governments may create or join local human rights commissions. Municipal legislative bodies are empowered to set membership rules, appropriate funding, and delegate enforcement powers similar to those held by the state commission—provided that no commission member holds a political party office. Local commissions may hire their own staff, including investigators shared with other local commissions, to carry out their civil rights mandate.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under AS 18.80.290, a local human rights commission operating in a municipality may be granted investigative and enforcement powers comparable to those of the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights. Property owners and managers operating in municipalities with such commissions should be aware that local bodies may have authority to receive and investigate housing discrimination complaints. Operators generally maintain compliance by following both state and any applicable local anti-discrimination requirements, and by cooperating with any duly authorized local commission investigators.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
AS 18.80.290 allows municipalities to establish local human rights commissions with powers similar to the state commission, which can include the authority to investigate housing discrimination complaints. Tenants who believe they have experienced discriminatory treatment in housing may have the option of filing a complaint with a local human rights commission if one exists in their municipality, in addition to state-level avenues. Tenant-rights organizations in the relevant municipality can help identify whether a local commission exists and what complaint processes are available under this provision.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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