Gavelin
Search bills and speaker-attributed hearing transcripts across all 50 US state legislatures.
Install
Add this to your client's MCP configuration (Claude Desktop: claude_desktop_config.json; Cursor: .cursor/mcp.json; VS Code and others use the same "mcpServers" shape).
claude mcp add --transport http gavelin 'https://mcp.gavelin.ai/mcp'
{
"mcpServers": {
"gavelin": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://mcp.gavelin.ai/mcp"
}
}
}
Documentation
From the project's README on GitHub, refreshed weekly. Links open on GitHub.
Gavelin MCP Server
State legislative records for AI tools. Speaker-attributed hearing transcripts from US state legislatures, alongside bill records from all 50 states.
Search bills across all 50 states, find what legislators said in hearings, get full committee hearing transcripts with speaker attribution — all via the Model Context Protocol.
Connect
Server URL: https://mcp.gavelin.ai/mcp
Claude Desktop
Add to claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"gavelin": {
"url": "https://mcp.gavelin.ai/mcp",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
}
}
}
}
Claude Code
{
"mcpServers": {
"gavelin": {
"type": "url",
"url": "https://mcp.gavelin.ai/mcp",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
}
}
}
}
Any MCP Client
The server uses Streamable HTTP transport. Any MCP-compatible client (Cursor, Windsurf, custom agents) can connect with the URL and a bearer token.
Get an API Key
Sign up for a free account at gavelin.ai and generate an API key from your Account page under "Developer API."
Available Tools
search_bills
Search bills across all 50 US states + DC by keyword, sponsor, committee, status, or chamber. Covers multiple legislative sessions with full detail including sponsors, subjects, and legislative history.
Example queries an agent might make:
- "What housing bills are pending in California?"
- "Find bills sponsored by Rivera in New York"
- "Search for cannabis legislation that passed in 2025"
search_hearing_testimony
Search speaker-attributed hearing and floor session segments. Find what specific legislators or witnesses said about any topic. Returns speaker name, role, committee, date, and surrounding context.
Example queries:
- "What has Senator Krueger said about affordable housing?"
- "Find testimony about SNAP benefits in Finance committee hearings"
get_bill_detail
Get full details on a specific bill including sponsor, subjects, committee, legislative history, and any hearing mentions.
get_speaker_activity
Get everything a specific legislator or witness has said in hearings and floor sessions.
search_committee_hearings
Browse committee and public hearings by topic, committee, chamber, or date range.
get_hearing_transcript
Get the full transcript of a specific hearing with all speakers labeled by name.
list_available_states
See which states have data and what type (bills, transcripts, or both).
Rate Limits
API keys are free and rate-limited. Email hello@gavelin.ai if you need higher limits.
What's in it
- Speaker attribution — real names on hearing testimony, not "Speaker A/B"
- All 50 states — bill records for every state, with hearing transcripts for a growing number of states
- Historical depth — multiple years of legislative sessions
About
Gavelin is a searchable archive of state legislative proceedings. Search is free at gavelin.ai.
- Web app: gavelin.ai
- Contact: hello@gavelin.ai
License
The MIT License in this repository applies only to the documentation contained here (README, server configuration files, logos). The Gavelin MCP server itself is a proprietary hosted service operated by Gavelin (gavelin.ai) and is not covered by the MIT License. Access to the server requires an API key issued under Gavelin's terms of service.
Frequently asked questions
What is Gavelin?
Search bills and speaker-attributed hearing transcripts across all 50 US state legislatures.
How do I install Gavelin?
It runs as a remote server. In Claude Code: claude mcp add --transport http gavelin 'https://mcp.gavelin.ai/mcp'. For other clients, paste the JSON configuration from this page into their MCP settings.
Does Gavelin need an API key?
Its registry entry lists no required key or secret. Some features may still need an account with the service it connects to.
Is Gavelin open source?
Yes. Its code is on GitHub under the MIT license.
Who maintains Gavelin?
It is published by gavelin-ai. AI.tn lists it but does not maintain or endorse it.
From the official MCP Registry. Listing is not an endorsement: review a server's code and permissions before giving it access to your data.