Researchers turn America's scattered local laws into a free searchable database covering all 50 states
America is a nation of local laws—millions of them. From noise ordinances and construction codes to rules about fishing licenses and roadside mango peddling, every town, city and county has its own set of regulations and unique way of doing things.
America is a nation of local laws, with millions of regulations varying from one town, city or county to another. Accessing these laws can be a complex task, often involving dense PDFs and inconsistent government websites. This complexity poses challenges for developers, residents, and researchers alike. However, a groundbreaking project at UC Berkeley aims to simplify this process through the use of AI and data science.
By collecting and digitizing all locally accessible laws across the 50 states, the project is creating a free, open-access database that offers unprecedented insights into local governance. This "new kind of telescope" on governance, led by assistant professor Diag Davenport, could revolutionize how people interact with the rules governing their daily lives.
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