When should I use Similarity Search?
When Should I Use Similarity Search?
You Have Specific Law, Bill or Regulatory Text
If you possess an exact passage (e.g., from a piece of legislation) and want to see where else that language appears—or appears in closely similar form—across different states.
Example: You have a few paragraphs from a data privacy bill in California and want to see which other states have adopted language resembling the clause “Do Not Sell My Personal Data.”
You’re Tracking Model Legislation or Specific Provisions
If a bill is considered “model legislation” and you need to find copycat or substantially similar versions in other jurisdictions.
Example: You notice that an occupational licensing reform bill in Arizona is gaining traction. You paste the relevant section to find similar licensing reforms in other states.
You Want to Compare the Language of Different Laws
If your goal is to see the actual textual overlap: how closely a new law matches an existing one in terms of wording, structure, or phrasing.
Example: You’re checking whether two states use similar definitions of “renewable energy sources” in their statutes.
Shorter, More Targeted Passages
Similarity Search excels when you have a concise block of text. If your text is too broad, you might be better off using Concept Search.
Example: A paragraph from a human trafficking prevention statute, which you suspect other states may have borrowed verbatim.
When Exact Wording Matters
If you specifically care about the precise language—for instance, a requirement that states “must” rather than “may,” you can see how other bills handle or rephrase the same standard.
Example: Searching for mandatory (vs. optional) compliance wording across multiple states’ environmental regulations.
Key Takeaway
Use Similarity Search whenever you have a definitive text excerpt and want to locate content that’s semantically close or structurally aligned to that excerpt. It’s about pinpointing parallel or near-parallel language, rather than exploring broad concepts.