9 V.S.A. § ___ § 4551
Human Rights Commission; members; compensation
Operative Text
(a) The Human Rights Commission is hereby established. It shall consist of five members to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall designate one member to be its Chair. No more than three members shall be of the same political party. At least one member shall be of a racial minority. (b) The members of the Commission shall be appointed for terms of five years each, except that of the members first appointed, the Governor shall designate one for a term of one year, one for a term of two years, one for a term of three years and one for a term of four years. A member of the Commission appointed to fill a vacancy occurring other than by expiration of a term shall be appointed only for the unexpired portion of the term. Members of the Commission shall be eligible for reappointment. (c) A member of the Commission whose term has expired or who resigned during a term shall be eligible to act as an alternate at the request of the Executive Director of the Commission if necessary to convene a quorum of the Commission to act upon complaints pursuant to section 4554 of this title. An alternate shall only participate in the consideration of complaints at meetings attended and shall not be involved in setting the policies of the Commission. (d) Each member of the Commission, including an alternate who is called to act, shall receive compensation as provided by 32 V.S.A. § 1010 with a maximum of $1,000.00 a year, and shall be entitled to expenses actually and necessarily incurred in the performance of his or her duties. (e) Three members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. Alternate members may not make up a majority of a quorum. (Added 1987, No. 234 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2005, No. 71, § 98b; 2007, No. 192 (Adj. Sess.), § 6.000.)
Section 4551 of Title 9 of Vermont law establishes the Vermont Human Rights Commission as a five-member body appointed by the Governor with Senate confirmation. The statute sets out rules for membership composition—including political party balance and racial minority representation—as well as staggered term lengths, quorum requirements, and compensation limits. Former members whose terms have expired or who resigned may serve as alternates in limited circumstances to help the Commission reach a quorum for handling complaints.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 9 V.S.A. § 4551, the Vermont Human Rights Commission is the body that oversees complaints related to housing discrimination in Vermont. Property owners and managers operating in Vermont should be aware that this Commission has the authority to act on complaints, and that its quorum and membership rules govern when and how it can formally take action. Understanding the Commission's structure helps operators recognize the institutional framework within which fair housing enforcement decisions are made.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
9 V.S.A. § 4551 establishes the Vermont Human Rights Commission, which is one avenue through which housing-related discrimination complaints can be formally reviewed in Vermont. Tenants who believe their rights have been violated may consider filing a complaint with the Commission, which is structured to ensure diverse and bipartisan membership when evaluating such matters. Tenant-rights organizations in Vermont can help individuals understand how the Commission's complaint process under section 4554 of the same title may be relevant to their situation.
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 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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