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Open States (BYOK) — connector documentation

  • MCP endpoint: https://byok-openstates.connectorbay.com/mcp
  • REST API: POST https://byok-openstates.connectorbay.com/v1/tools/{tool_name}, described by the OpenAPI 3.1 spec at https://byok-openstates.connectorbay.com/openapi.json
  • Transport: Streamable HTTP, stateless, MCP specification 2025-06-18 or later
  • Authentication: your own Open States Open States API key, sent in the X-Upstream-Key header of every request (never stored, logged or cached)
  • Health: https://byok-openstates.connectorbay.com/health · Tool schemas: https://byok-openstates.connectorbay.com/tools.json
  • Publisher: Unify Dynamics LLC · connectorbay.com/byok-openstates · agent@connectorbay.com

What Open States (BYOK) is for

Open States (BYOK) lets an AI assistant read your own Open States data through the Open States API with a key you supply (Open States API key). Read-only: 7 tools (list_jurisdictions, get_jurisdiction, search_legislators, find_legislators_by_location, search_bills, get_bill, list_committees). The BYOK key travels with each request, is used for that one call only and is never stored, logged or cached; it is only ever sent to v3.openstates.org. Unofficial connector by Unify Dynamics LLC: not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Open States. Open States and its logos are trademarks of their owners and are used only to say which service the connector works with.

Ask your assistant things like:

  • "Which state legislatures does Open States cover?"
  • "What legislative sessions does Texas have?"
  • "Who are the senators of Colorado?"
  • "Who are the state legislators for latitude 30.2672, longitude -97.7431?"
  • "What Texas bills about water were acted on recently?"
  • "Show HB 1 of the 2025 Texas session with its actions"

What it does

  • list_jurisdictions: List the jurisdictions Open States covers (states, DC, Puerto Rico, some municipalities) with id, name, classification and the dates of the latest bill and people updates.
  • get_jurisdiction: Get one jurisdiction with its legislative sessions (identifiers, names and dates; the session identifier is needed to look up a bill) and its organizations.
  • search_legislators: Search current legislators and other officials by name, jurisdiction, district or role (upper chamber, lower chamber, executive ...): name, party, current role, email and Open States link.
  • find_legislators_by_location: Find the state legislators who represent a latitude/longitude point.
  • search_bills: Search state bills by jurisdiction, session, chamber, subject, sponsor, text or dates; returns identifier, title, session, jurisdiction, classification, subjects and latest action. Use get_bill for actions and sponsors.
  • get_bill: Get one state bill by jurisdiction, session and identifier: title, subjects, latest action and, with include, sponsorships, actions, versions, documents or votes.
  • list_committees: List legislative committees of a jurisdiction and chamber (the service marks committee data as experimental and incomplete for some states).

BYOK key

You bring your own Open States Open States API key (https://open.pluralpolicy.com/accounts/profile/). Your assistant sends it in the X-Upstream-Key header with each request. ConnectorBay uses it for that one call only: it is never stored, logged or cached, never shown in an answer, and it is only sent to v3.openstates.org over https, with no redirects followed. Create a key with the fewest permissions the tools need (read-only if the provider offers it), and revoke it at the provider whenever you like.

Data sources

Live from the Open States API (v3.openstates.org) with a BYOK key; documentation: https://docs.openstates.org/api-v3/. Endpoints checked against that documentation on 2026-10-16.

What it is not

Unofficial connector by Unify Dynamics LLC: not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Open States. Open States and its logos are trademarks of their owners and are used only to say which service the connector works with. It is read-only: it never creates, changes, sends or deletes anything in your Open States account.

Built for: Worldwide. Languages: English.