Bills
+There are two methods available for bill data: + +
+| Method | URL pattern | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Search | +/bills/ | +Search bills by (almost) any of their attributes, or full text. | +
| Bill Detail | + /bills/state/session/bill_id/ |
+ Get full detail for bill, including any actions, votes, etc. | +
Bill Fields
+The following fields are available on bill objects: + +
+-
+
stateState abbreviation.
+sessionSession key (see metadata for details).
+bill_idThe official id of the bill (e.g. 'SB 27', 'A 2111')
+titleThe official title of the bill.
+alternate_titlesList of alternate titles that the bill has had. (Often empty.)
+action_datesDictionary of notable action dates (useful for determining status). Contains the following fields:-
+
firstFirst action (only null if there are no actions).
+lastLast action (only null if there are no actions).
+passed_lowerDate that the bill seems to have passed the lower chamber (might be null).
+passed_upperDate that the bill seems to have passed the upper chamber (might be null).
+signedDate that the bill appears to have signed into law (might be null).
+
+actionsList of objects representing every recorded action for the bill. Action objects have the following fields:-
+
dateDate of action.
+actionName of action as state provides it.
+actorThe chamber, person, committee, etc. responsible for this action.
+typeOpen States-provided action categories, see action categorization.
+
+chamberThe chamber of origination ('upper' or 'lower')
+created_atThe date that this object first appeared in our system. (Note: not the date of introduction, seeaction_datesfor that information.)
+updated_atThe date that this object was last updated in our system. (Note: not the last action date, seeaction_datesfor that information.)
+documentsList of associated documents, seeversionsfor field details.
+idOpen States-assigned permanent ID for this bill.
+scraped_subjectsList of subject areas that the state categorized this bill under.
+subjectsList of Open States-standardized bill subjects, see subject categorization.
+sourcesList of source URLs used to compile information on this object.
+sponsorsList of bill sponsors.-
+
nameName of sponsor as it appears on state website.
+leg_idOpen States assigned legislator ID (will be null if no match was found).
+typeType of sponsor ('primary' or 'cosponsor')
+
+typeList of bill types.
+versionsVersions of the bill text. Both documents andversionshave the following fields:-
+
urlOfficial URL for this document.
+nameAn official name for this document.
+mimetypeThe mimetype for the document (e.g. 'text/html')
+doc_idAn Open States-assigned id uniquely identifying this document.
+
+votesList of vote objects. A vote object consists of the following keys:-
+
motionName of motion being voted upon (e.g. 'Passage')
+chamberChamber vote took place in ('upper', 'lower', 'joint')
+dateDate of vote.
+idOpen States-assigned unique identifier for vote.
+stateState abbreviation.
+sessionSession key (see metadata for details).
+sourcesList of source URLs used to compile information on this object. (Can be empty if vote shares sources with bill.)
+yes_countTotal number of yes votes.
+no_countTotal number of no votes.
+other_countTotal number of 'other' votes (abstain, not present, etc.).
+yes_votes,no_votes,other_votesList of roll calls of each type. Each is an object consisting of two keys:-
+
nameName of voter as it appears on state website.
+leg_idOpen States assigned legislator ID (will be null if no match was found).
+
+
+
Methods
+Bill Search
+This method returns just a subset (state, chamber, session, subjects, type, id, bill_id, title, created_at, updated_at) of the bill fields by default.
+
+
Filter Parameters
+The following parameters filter the returned set of bills, at least one must be provided. + +
+-
+
stateOnly return bills from a given state (e.g. 'nc')
+chamberOnly return bills matching the provided chamber ('upper' or 'lower')
+bill_idOnly return bills with a given bill_id.
+bill_id__inAccepts a pipe (|) delimited list of bill ids.
+qOnly return bills matching the provided full text query.
+search_windowBy default all bills are searched, but if a time window is desired the following options can be passed to search_window:-
+
search_window=allDefault, include all sessions.
+search_window=termOnly bills from sessions within the current term.
+search_window=sessionOnly bills from the current session.
+search_window=session:2009Only bills from the session named 2009.
+search_window=term:2009-2011Only bills from the sessions in the 2009-2011 session.
+
+updated_sinceOnly bills updated since a provided date (provided in YYYY-MM-DD format)
+sponsor_idOnly bills sponsored by a given legislator id (e.g. 'ILL000555')
+subjectOnly bills categorized by Open States as belonging to this subject.
+typeOnly bills of a given type (e.g. 'bill', 'resolution', etc.)
+
Additional Parameters
+sort Sort-order of results, defaults to 'last', options are:
+
+
-
+
- 'first' +
- 'last' +
- 'signed' +
- 'passed_lower' +
- 'passed_upper' +
- 'updated_at' +
- 'created_at' +
See the above action_dates, created_at, and updated_at documentation for the meaning of these dates.
+
+
The API will not return exceedingly large responses, so it may be necessary to use page and per_page to control the number of results returned:
+
+
-
+
pagePage of results, each of sizeper_page(defaults to 1)
+per_pageNumber of results per page, is unlimited unless page is set, in which case it defaults to 50.
+
Example: openstates.org/api/v1/bills/?state=dc&q=taxi + +
+Bill Detail
+This method returns the full detail object for a bill. + +
+Example: openstates.org/api/v1/bills/ca/20092010/AB%20667/ + +
+Note: This method has an alternate URL form: + +
+-
+
bills/openstates_bill_id- e.g.openstates.org/api/v1/bills/CAB00004148/- allows lookup by bill_id
+
Examples
+Bill Search
+http://openstates.org/api/v1/bills/?state=dc&q=taxi
+
+
[
+ {
+ "title": "\"DOC INMATE PROCESSING AND RELEASE AMENDMENT ACT OF 2012\". ",
+ "created_at": "2011-07-18 04:35:16",
+ "updated_at": "2012-09-14 03:49:38",
+ "chamber": "upper",
+ "state": "dc",
+ "session": "19",
+ "subjects": [],
+ "type": [ "bill" ],
+ "id": "DCB00001021",
+ "bill_id": "B 19-0428"
+ },
+ {
+ "title": "\"TAXICAB SERVICE IMPROVEMENT AMENDMENT ACT OF 2012\".\r\n\r\n ",
+ "created_at": "2012-01-06 20:53:35",
+ "updated_at": "2012-12-07 20:31:54",
+ "chamber": "upper",
+ "state": "dc",
+ "session": "19",
+ "subjects": [],
+ "type": [ "bill" ],
+ "id": "DCB00001501",
+ "bill_id": "B 19-0630"
+ },
+ {
+ "title": "\"FISCAL YEAR 2013 BUDGET SUPPORT ACT OF 2012\". ",
+ "created_at": "2012-03-27 02:19:29",
+ "updated_at": "2012-10-18 03:33:02",
+ "chamber": "upper",
+ "state": "dc",
+ "session": "19",
+ "subjects": [],
+ "type": [ "bill" ],
+ "id": "DCB00001892",
+ "bill_id": "B 19-0743"
+ },
+ {
+ "title": "\"FISCAL YEAR 2013 BUDGET SUPPORT EMERGENCY ACT OF 2012\". ",
+ "created_at": "2012-06-08 02:51:47",
+ "updated_at": "2012-09-07 03:51:01",
+ "chamber": "upper",
+ "state": "dc",
+ "session": "19",
+ "subjects": [],
+ "type": [ "bill" ],
+ "id": "DCB00002085",
+ "bill_id": "B 19-0796"
+ },
+ {
+ "title": "\"LEON SWAIN, JR. RECOGNITION RESOLUTION OF 2012\". ",
+ "created_at": "2012-04-27 02:36:38",
+ "updated_at": "2012-08-22 04:20:34",
+ "chamber": "upper",
+ "state": "dc",
+ "session": "19",
+ "subjects": [],
+ "type": [ "resolution" ],
+ "id": "DCB00001959",
+ "bill_id": "CER 19-0218"
+ },
+ {
+ "title": "\"WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOGNITION RESOLUTION OF 2011\".",
+ "created_at": "2012-03-20 02:17:18",
+ "updated_at": "2012-08-22 04:20:34",
+ "chamber": "upper",
+ "state": "dc",
+ "session": "19",
+ "subjects": [],
+ "type": [ "resolution" ],
+ "id": "DCB00001795",
+ "bill_id": "CER 19-0171"
+ },
+ {
+ "title": "\"WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TAXICABS PARITY AMENDMENT ACT OF 2011\".",
+ "created_at": "2012-01-06 20:53:35",
+ "updated_at": "2012-08-22 04:20:26",
+ "chamber": "upper",
+ "state": "dc",
+ "session": "19",
+ "subjects": [],
+ "type": [ "bill" ],
+ "id": "DCB00001506",
+ "bill_id": "B 19-0635"
+ },
+ {
+ "title": "\"FISCAL YEAR 2012 BUDGET SUPPORT ACT OF 2011\".",
+ "created_at": "2011-04-06 01:53:14",
+ "updated_at": "2012-10-18 03:32:58",
+ "chamber": "upper",
+ "state": "dc",
+ "session": "19",
+ "subjects": [],
+ "type": [ "bill" ],
+ "id": "DCB00000427",
+ "bill_id": "B 19-0203"
+ },
+ {
+ "title": "\"FISCAL YEAR 2012 BUDGET SUPPORT EMERGENCY ACT OF 2011\".\r\n ",
+ "created_at": "2011-06-16 04:18:55",
+ "updated_at": "2012-08-22 04:20:21",
+ "chamber": "upper",
+ "state": "dc",
+ "session": "19",
+ "subjects": [],
+ "type": [ "bill" ],
+ "id": "DCB00000794",
+ "bill_id": "B 19-0338"
+ },
+ {
+ "title": "\"PROFESSIONAL TAXICAB STANDARDS AND MEDALLION ESTABLISHMENT ACT OF 2011\".",
+ "created_at": "2011-03-21 18:55:32",
+ "updated_at": "2012-08-22 04:20:17",
+ "chamber": "upper",
+ "state": "dc",
+ "session": "19",
+ "subjects": [],
+ "type": [ "bill" ],
+ "id": "DCB00000339",
+ "bill_id": "B 19-0172"
+ }
+]Bill Detail
+http://openstates.org/api/v1/bills/ca/20092010/AB%20667/
+
+
{
+ "action_dates": {
+ "passed_upper": null,
+ "passed_lower": null,
+ "last": "2009-08-06 00:00:00",
+ "signed": null,
+ "first": "2009-02-25 00:00:00"
+ },
+ "actions": [
+ { "date": "2009-02-25 00:00:00",
+ "action": "Read first time. To print.",
+ "type": [ "bill:introduced", "bill:reading:1" ],
+ "actor": "lower (Desk)" },
+ { "date": "2009-02-26 00:00:00",
+ "action": "From printer. May be heard in committee March 28.",
+ "type": [ "other" ],
+ "actor": "lower (Desk)" },
+ { "date": "2009-03-23 00:00:00",
+ "action": "Referred to Com. on HEALTH.",
+ "type": [ "committee:referred" ],
+ "actor": "lower (Committee CX08)" },
+ { "date": "2009-04-02 00:00:00",
+ "action": "From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.",
+ "type": [ "bill:reading:2" ],
+ "actor": "lower (E&E Engrossing)" },
+ { "date": "2009-04-13 00:00:00",
+ "action": "Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.",
+ "type": [ "committee:referred" ],
+ "actor": "lower (Committee CX08)" },
+ { "date": "2009-04-15 00:00:00",
+ "action": "From committee: Do pass, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Re-referred. (Ayes 19. Noes 0.) (April 14).",
+ "type": [ "other" ],
+ "actor": "lower (Committee)" },
+ { "date": "2009-04-29 00:00:00",
+ "action": "From committee: Do pass, and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Re-referred. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 28).",
+ "type": [ "other" ],
+ "actor": "lower (Committee)" },
+ { "date": "2009-05-04 00:00:00",
+ "action": "From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on APPR. Read second time and amended.",
+ "type": [ "bill:reading:2" ],
+ "actor": "lower (E&E Engrossing)" },
+ { "date": "2009-05-05 00:00:00",
+ "action": "Re-referred to Com. on APPR.",
+ "type": [ "committee:referred" ],
+ "actor": "lower (Committee CX25)" },
+ { "date": "2009-05-14 00:00:00",
+ "action": "From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (May 13).",
+ "type": [ "other" ],
+ "actor": "lower" },
+ { "date": "2009-05-18 00:00:00",
+ "action": "Read second time. To Consent Calendar.",
+ "type": [ "bill:reading:2" ],
+ "actor": "lower" },
+ { "date": "2009-05-21 00:00:00",
+ "action": "Read third time, passed, and to Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 1628.)",
+ "type": [ "other" ],
+ "actor": "lower (E&E Engrossing)" },
+ { "date": "2009-05-21 00:00:00",
+ "action": "In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.",
+ "type": [ "bill:reading:1", "committee:referred" ],
+ "actor": "upper (Rules)" },
+ { "date": "2009-06-04 00:00:00",
+ "action": "Referred to Com. on B., P. & E.D.",
+ "type": [ "committee:referred" ],
+ "actor": "upper (Committee CS42)" },
+ { "date": "2009-06-22 00:00:00",
+ "action": "From committee: Do pass, and re-refer to Com. on APPR. Re-referred. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 22).",
+ "type": [ "other" ],
+ "actor": "upper (Committee)" },
+ { "date": "2009-06-29 00:00:00",
+ "action": "From committee: Be placed on second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.",
+ "type": [ "other" ],
+ "actor": "upper" },
+ { "date": "2009-06-30 00:00:00",
+ "action": "Read second time. To third reading.",
+ "type": [ "bill:reading:2" ],
+ "actor": "upper" },
+ { "date": "2009-07-02 00:00:00",
+ "action": "Ordered to Special Consent Calendar.",
+ "type": [ "other" ],
+ "actor": "upper" },
+ { "date": "2009-07-09 00:00:00",
+ "action": "Read third time, passed, and to Assembly. (Ayes 34. Noes 0. Page 1667.)",
+ "type": [ "other" ],
+ "actor": "upper (Desk)" },
+ { "date": "2009-07-09 00:00:00",
+ "action": "In Assembly. To enrollment.",
+ "type": [ "other" ],
+ "actor": "lower (E&E Enrollment)" },
+ { "date": "2009-07-30 00:00:00",
+ "action": "Enrolled and to the Governor at 2:30 p.m.",
+ "type": [ "other" ],
+ "actor": "executive" },
+ { "date": "2009-08-05 00:00:00",
+ "action": "Approved by the Governor.",
+ "type": [ "other" ],
+ "actor": "executive" },
+ { "date": "2009-08-06 00:00:00",
+ "action": "Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 119, Statutes of 2009.",
+ "type": [ "other" ],
+ "actor": "Secretary of State" }
+ ],
+ "alternate_titles": [
+ "An act to amend Section 104830 of, and to add Section 104762 to, the Health and Safety Code, relating to oral health."
+ ],
+ "bill_id": "AB 667",
+ "chamber": "lower",
+ "created_at": "2010-07-09 17:28:10",
+ "documents": [],
+ "id": "CAB00004148",
+ "level": "state",
+ "scraped_subjects": [ "Topical fluoride application." ],
+ "session": "20092010",
+ "sources": [
+ { "url": "http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=200920100AB667" }
+ ],
+ "sponsors": [
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000044", "type": "primary", "name": "Block" }
+ ],
+ "state": "ca",
+ "subjects": [],
+ "title": "An act to amend Section 1750.1 of the Business and Professions Code, and to amend Section 104830 of, and to add Section 104762 to, the Health and Safety Code, relating to oral health.",
+ "type": [ "bill", "fiscal committee" ],
+ "updated_at": "2012-04-06 17:17:37",
+ "versions": [
+ {
+ "url": "http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=200920100AB667",
+ "mimetype": "text/html", "doc_id": "CAD00040031", "name": "AB667"
+ }
+ ],
+ "votes": [
+ {
+ "other_count": 6, "+threshold": "1/2",
+ "other_votes": [
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000014", "name": "Ashburn" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000036", "name": "Calderon" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000010", "name": "Corbett" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000026", "name": "Harman" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000021", "name": "Oropeza" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000005", "name": "Wolk" }
+ ],
+ "yes_count": 34,
+ "yes_votes": [
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000004", "name": "Aanestad" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000039", "name": "Alquist" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000029", "name": "Benoit" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000017", "name": "Cedillo" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000011", "name": "Cogdill" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000037", "name": "Correa" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000001", "name": "Cox" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000007", "name": "DeSaulnier" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000032", "name": "Denham" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000038", "name": "Ducheny" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000023", "name": "Dutton" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000033", "name": "Florez" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000009", "name": "Hancock" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000027", "name": "Hollingsworth" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000022", "name": "Huff" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000030", "name": "Kehoe" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000003", "name": "Leno" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000016", "name": "Liu" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000080", "name": "Lowenthal" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000012", "name": "Maldonado" },
+ { "leg_id": null, "name": "Negrete McLeod" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000034", "name": "Padilla" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000018", "name": "Pavley" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000040", "name": "Price" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000019", "name": "Romero" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000013", "name": "Runner" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000031", "name": "Simitian" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000006", "name": "Steinberg" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000015", "name": "Strickland" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000025", "name": "Walters" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000002", "name": "Wiggins" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000035", "name": "Wright" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000028", "name": "Wyland" },
+ { "leg_id": "CAL000008", "name": "Yee" }
+ ],
+ "no_count": 0,
+ "motion": "Special Consent #12 AB667 Block By Alquist",
+ "chamber": "upper",
+ "state": "ca",
+ "session": "20092010",
+ "sources": [],
+ "passed": true,
+ "date": "2009-07-09 16:50:00",
+ "vote_id": "CAV00009230",
+ "type": "other",
+ "id": "CAV00009230",
+ "bill_id": "CAB00004148",
+ "no_votes": []
+ }
+ ]
+}