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The 1776 Philadelphia ConstitutionThe laws of the land, set down plainly — and put to the people, one provision at a time.

The Pennsylvania Register

Every law Pennsylvania has passed

55,382 acts of the General Assembly, from William Penn’s first assembly in 1682 to 2026. Until 1874 much of the Assembly’s work was “special” legislation for a single person, company or town: a divorce, a road, a tavern license. That year’s constitution barred local and special laws on most subjects, and the yearly count fell; lately it is about 150.

Not yet complete · The state has not yet digitized its session laws act by act for most years between 1851 and 1949. We filled what we could from scans of the printed volumes: every year from 1851 to 1875 and most sessions from 1877 to 1907. A computer read those titles, so they can contain misspellings, and a few acts in each year were missed. Most years from 1909 to 1949 are still thin (marked below). Every other year is complete, from 1682 through 1850 and from 1950 to today.

Clear

615 laws of the 1790s

Constitution of 1790

  1. Enabling certain freemen of the county of Northumberland to vote at the first election district at their next general election

    Ch. 1780 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 197 · 1794 · Original text

  2. Establishing and building a bridge across the Raystown branch of Juniata

    Ch. 1781 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 198 · 1794 · Original text

  3. Relief of Peter Shaffner, an insolvent debtor confined in the gaol of the county of Lancaster

    Ch. 1782 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 200 · 1794 · Original text

  4. Enable such of the militia of this commonwealth as may be on service and absent from their respective counties to vote at the next general election

    Ch. 1783 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 201 · 1794 · Original text

  5. Supplement to the act entitled "An act to prevent the receiving any more applications or issuing any more warrants, except in certain cases, for land within this commonwealth."

    Ch. 1784 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 205 · 1794 · Original text

  6. Erecting a new election district and for changing the place for holding their elections in the third or upper district in the county of Huntingdon

    Ch. 1785 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 206 · 1794 · Original text

  7. Enable John Walker to extend his wing-dam across Conedogwinit creek

    Ch. 1786 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 207 · 1794 · Original text

  8. Authorize the governor to suspend the laying out a town at Presque Isle and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1787 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 208 · 1794 · Original text

  9. In favor of Nathaniel Falconer

    Ch. 1788 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 210 · 1794 · Original text

  10. Supplement to "An act for establishing a health office, for otherwise securing the city and port of Philadelphia from the introduction of pestilential and contagious diseases and for regulating the importation of German and other passengers."

    Ch. 1789 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 210 · 1794 · Original text

  11. Relief of certain persons having demands against the commonwealth for materials furnished and work done at or for the house intended for the accommodation of the president of the United States

    Ch. 1790 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 213 · 1795 · Original text

  12. Erect additional election districts in Westmoreland county

    Ch. 1791 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 215 · 1795 · Original text

  13. Supplement to "An act to enable the governor of this commonwealth to incorporate a company for opening a canal and lock navigation between the rivers Schuylkill and Susquehanna ... in the counties of Berks and Dauphin."

    Ch. 1792 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 216 · 1795 · Original text

  14. Erect a new election district in Dauphin county

    Ch. 1793 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 217 · 1795 · Original text

  15. Provide for the payment of certain incidental expenses of the late senate

    Ch. 1794 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 217 · 1795 · Original text

  16. Extend an act entitled "An act to enable aliens to purchase and hold real estates within this commonwealth."

    Ch. 1795 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 218 · 1795 · Original text

  17. Supplement to "An act to empower the wardens of the city of Philadelphia to extend the market house in High street from Third street to Fourth street from Delaware river and to continue the same from time to time westwardly ... therein mentioned."

    Ch. 1796 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 219 · 1795 · Original text

  18. Erect the townships of Lackawanna, Exeter and Providence in the county of Luzerne into a separate election district

    Ch. 1797 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 220 · 1795 · Original text

  19. Authorize Benjamin Elliot to erect a wing dam on the east side of the river Juniata in Huntingdon county

    Ch. 1798 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 221 · 1795 · Original text

  20. Further supplement to the act entitled "An act to enable the governor of this commonwealth to incorporate a company for opening a canal and lock navigation on the waters of Brandywine creek."

    Ch. 1799 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 222 · 1795 · Original text

  21. Vest in trustees for the use of the religious society of people called Quakers a certain six acres of land as therein mentioned

    Ch. 1800 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 225 · 1795 · Original text

  22. Authorize Jeremiah Rees and Samuel Fisher to maintain a dam across Connedogwinit creek

    Ch. 1801 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 226 · 1795 · Original text

  23. Provide for discharging certain certificates of this state

    Ch. 1802 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 228 · 1795 · Original text

  24. Afford relief to certain distressed French emigrants

    Ch. 1803 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 229 · 1795 · Original text

  25. Empowering certain trustees to sell and dispose of a certain house and lot of ground in the borough of Easton and county of Northampton and appropriate the moneys for a parsonage of four Protestant Evangelic Reformed German congregations

    Ch. 1804 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 230 · 1795 · Original text

  26. Supplement to the act entitled "An act to incorporate the Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania."

    Ch. 1805 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 232 · 1795 · Original text

  27. Erect the town of Chester and its vicinity in the county of Delaware into a borough and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1806 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 233 · 1795 · Original text

  28. Authorize the governor of this commonwealth to incorporate a company for erecting a bridge over the river Delaware at the borough of Easton in the county of Northampton

    Ch. 1807 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 236 · 1795 · Original text

  29. Erect the township of Hopewell in the county of Bedford into a separate election district

    Ch. 1808 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 246 · 1795 · Original text

  30. Authorize William Beatty to erect a dam from Sheep Island to the west side of the river Juniata in the county of Cumberland

    Ch. 1809 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 246 · 1795 · Original text

  31. Erect Bald Eagle township and part of Potter's township in the county of Mifflin into a separate election district and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1810 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 247 · 1795 · Original text

  32. Erect the town of Bedford in the county of Bedford into a borough

    Ch. 1811 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 248 · 1795 · Original text

  33. Erect the township of the Northern Liberties of the city of Philadelphia into two districts and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1812 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 251 · 1795 · Original text

  34. Building a town house and market place between Coates street and Poplar lane on Second street continued in the Northern Liberties of the county of Philadelphia and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1813 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 252 · 1795 · Original text

  35. Supplement to the act entitled "An act to incorporate the district of Southwark."

    Ch. 1814 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 256 · 1795 · Original text

  36. Erect the township of Heidelberg in the county of Dauphin into a separate election district

    Ch. 1815 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 257 · 1795 · Original text

  37. Authorize William Gardner, junior, to erect a dam from a certain rocky island in the river Youghiogheny in the county of Westmoreland opposite to his own land to the southwest bank of the said river

    Ch. 1816 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 258 · 1795 · Original text

  38. Relief of Ann Russel

    Ch. 1817 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 259 · 1795 · Original text

  39. Ascertain the boundary lines of a certain tract of land in York county called Carrol's Delight

    Ch. 1818 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 260 · 1795 · Original text

  40. Supplement to the act entitled "An act to appoint trustees to purchase a piece of land within described bounds and thereon to erect a court house and prison for the use of the county of Westmoreland."

    Ch. 1819 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 261 · 1795 · Original text

  41. Enable the owners and possessors of a certain tract of marsh and meadow land situate in the township of Kingsessing in the county of Philadelphia, to keep the banks, dams, sluices and floodgates in repair and to raise a fund for expenses

    Ch. 1820 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 262 · 1795 · Original text

  42. Supply the deficiencies in former appropriations and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1821 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 269 · 1795 · Original text

  43. Reviving suits, process and proceedings which have been discontinued in the courts of oyer and terminer and general gaol delivery and the courts of general quarter sessions of the peace and common pleas in the county of Northumberland

    Ch. 1822 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 271 · 1795 · Original text

  44. Further supplement to the act entitled "An act to establish a board of wardens for the port of Philadelphia and for other purposes therein mentioned."

    Ch. 1823 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 272 · 1795 · Original text

  45. Continue an act entitled "An act to suspend for a limited time so much of the act entitled 'An act to regulate the assize of bread and for other purposes therein mentioned' as relates to the assize of bread.' "

    Ch. 1824 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 273 · 1795 · Original text

  46. Erect the township of Green in the county of Washington into a separate election district

    Ch. 1825 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 274 · 1795 · Original text

  47. Prevent intrusions on lands within the counties of Northampton, Northumberland and Luzerne

    Ch. 1826 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 274 · 1795 · Original text

  48. Erect Lewistown in the county of Mifflin into a borough

    Ch. 1827 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 277 · 1795 · Original text

  49. Relief of Dickinson College

    Ch. 1828 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 282 · 1795 · Original text

  50. Authorize John Hawger to erect a dam on Penn's creek

    Ch. 1829 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 283 · 1795 · Original text

  51. Supplement to an act entitled "An act to provide for the accommodation of the congress of the United States."

    Ch. 1830 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 284 · 1795 · Original text

  52. Erect a new election district in the county of Allegheny

    Ch. 1831 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 285 · 1795 · Original text

  53. Repeal so much of "An act for raising and collecting of money on the specified articles therein mentioned for the support of government and for other purposes therein mentioned" as imposes a tax on possessors of any coach, chariot, etc.

    Ch. 1832 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 286 · 1795 · Original text

  54. Authorize the directors of the library company of Philadelphia to increase the annual payment of the members of the said company

    Ch. 1833 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 287 · 1795 · Original text

  55. Erecting part of the county of Northumberland into a separate county (named Lycoming)

    Ch. 1834 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 288 · 1795 · Original text

  56. Reimburse the guardians of certain orphan children the moneys advanced by them for the support of the said children

    Ch. 1835 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 291 · 1795 · Original text

  57. Erect the township of Mahanoy in the county of Northumberland into a separate election district

    Ch. 1836 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 292 · 1795 · Original text

  58. Erect the townships of Cocalico and Elizabeth in the county of Lancaster into a separate election district

    Ch. 1837 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 293 · 1795 · Original text

  59. Cede to and vest in the United States of America the island commonly called Mud island

    Ch. 1838 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 293 · 1795 · Original text

  60. Erect a part of East Pennsborough and Allen townships in the county of Cumberland into a separate election district

    Ch. 1839 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 294 · 1795 · Original text

  61. Provide for educating John Metoxen, one of the Stockbridge tribe of Oneida Indians

    Ch. 1840 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 295 · 1795 · Original text

  62. Authorize the inhabitants of the Northern Liberties within certain described part thereof to regulate the streets, lanes and alleys within the same and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1841 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 296 · 1795 · Original text

  63. Provide for ascertaining the arrearages of taxes due from the respective counties of this commonwealth

    Ch. 1842 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 300 · 1795 · Original text

  64. Authorize a deviation in the course of that part of the state road from Bedford to Pittsburg which lies between Turtle Creek and Pittsburg

    Ch. 1843 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 304 · 1795 · Original text

  65. Supplementary to the several acts establishing a health office

    Ch. 1844 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 305 · 1795 · Original text

  66. Further supplement to the act entitled "An act to establish the judicial courts of this commonwealth in conformity to the alterations and amendments in the constitution."

    Ch. 1845 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 307 · 1795 · Original text

  67. Relief of William Dunton, Bernard Merkle and John Kline

    Ch. 1846 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 308 · 1795 · Original text

  68. Further supplement to "An act for establishing a health office, for otherwise securing the city and port of Philadelphia from the introduction of pestilential and contagious diseases and for regulating the importation of German and other passengers."

    Ch. 1847 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 309 · 1795 · Original text

  69. Ascertain certain parts of lines between the counties of Berks, Northampton, Northumberland and Luzerne and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1848 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 312 · 1795 · Original text

  70. Authorize the governor to vest the unproductive moneys of this commonwealth in certain descriptions of the public debts of the United States and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1849 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 314 · 1795 · Original text

  71. Relief of John Gordon

    Ch. 1850 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 317 · 1795 · Original text

  72. Erecting part of the county of Bedford into a separate county (named Somerset)

    Ch. 1851 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 318 · 1795 · Original text

  73. Regulate the mode of assessing and collecting county rates and levies

    Ch. 1852 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 322 · 1795 · Original text

  74. Enable the president, managers and company of the Philadelphia and Lancaster turnpike road to increase the width of the said road in certain cases

    Ch. 1853 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 330 · 1795 · Original text

  75. Enable the president and managers of the Schuylkill and Susquehanna navigation and the Delaware and Schuylkill canal navigation to raise by lottery the sum of $400,000 for completing the works in their acts of incorporation

    Ch. 1854 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 331 · 1795 · Original text

  76. Relative to donation lands

    Ch. 1855 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 333 · 1795 · Original text

  77. Provide for laying out and establishing towns and out lots within several tracts of land reserved for public uses situated respectively at Presque Isle on Lake Erie, at the mouth of French creek, at the mouth of Conewago creek and at Fort Le Boeuf

    Ch. 1856 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 337 · 1795 · Original text

  78. Providing for the inspection of gunpowder

    Ch. 1857 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 346 · 1795 · Original text

  79. Supplementary to the several acts of assembly for establishing the judicial courts of this commonwealth in conformity to the alterations and amendments in the constitution

    Ch. 1858 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 352 · 1795 · Original text

  80. Empower the corporation of the city of Philadelphia to oblige the owners and occupiers of houses in the said city to provide buckets to be used in extinguishing fires

    Ch. 1859 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 354 · 1795 · Original text

  81. Authorize the corporation of the city of Philadelphia to prevent the erecting of wooden buildings in certain parts of the city of Philadelphia

    Ch. 1860 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 354 · 1795 · Original text

  82. Continue in force the act entitled "An act to reform the penal laws of this state and for other purposes therein mentioned."

    Ch. 1861 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 355 · 1795 · Original text

  83. Supplement to the laws for preventing the exportation of flour not merchantable

    Ch. 1862 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 357 · 1795 · Original text

  84. Establishing an explicit fee bill

    Ch. 1863 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 359 · 1795 · Original text

  85. Provide for the payment of clerks in the offices of the surveyor general, receiver general and secretary of the land office and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1864 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 373 · 1795 · Original text

  86. Collect revenue from the rolls office for the further support of government

    Ch. 1865 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 375 · 1795 · Original text

  87. Provide for the settlement of the accounts of John Nicholson, late comptroller general

    Ch. 1866 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 376 · 1795 · Original text

  88. Afford further relief to certain distressed French emigrants

    Ch. 1867 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 377 · 1796 · Original text

  89. Vest in Hannah Sower for the use of herself and children certain parts of the forfeited estate of Christopher Sower, the younger, which have not yet come into the possession of the commonwealth

    Ch. 1868 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 378 · 1796 · Original text

  90. Ceding to the United States of America two certain outlots of the town of Franklin at the mouth of French creek in the county of Allegheny

    Ch. 1869 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 379 · 1796 · Original text

  91. Erect part of Washington county into a separate county (named Greene)

    Ch. 1870 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 380 · 1796 · Original text

  92. Authorize Oliver Pollock and Henry Neaff to erect wing-dams on Conedogwinit creek in the county of Cumberland

    Ch. 1871 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 385 · 1796 · Original text

  93. Supplement to the act entitled "An act to extend the powers of the justices of the peace in this state."

    Ch. 1872 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 387 · 1796 · Original text

  94. Declaring a certain part of Spring creek a public highway

    Ch. 1873 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 389 · 1796 · Original text

  95. Declaring a Tuscarora creek a public highway

    Ch. 1874 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 390 · 1796 · Original text

  96. Authorizing Brintnel Robbins to erect a mill dam over part of Youghiogheny river in the county of Westmoreland

    Ch. 1875 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 391 · 1796 · Original text

  97. Relief of Valentine Eckhart

    Ch. 1876 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 392 · 1796 · Original text

  98. Compensate David Meade and others

    Ch. 1877 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 393 · 1796 · Original text

  99. Empower the commissioners of Huntingdon county to assess and levy the further sum of 600 pounds for erecting and completing the said public buildings in the said county

    Ch. 1878 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 395 · 1796 · Original text

  100. Supplement to the act entitled "An act to provide for ascertaining the arrearages of taxes due from the respective counties of this commonwealth."

    Ch. 1879 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 396 · 1796 · Original text

By decade

Constitution of 19681968–today

Constitution of 18741874–1967

Constitution of 18381838–1873

Constitution of 17901790–1837

Constitution of 17761776–1789

Province of Pennsylvania1682–1775

1682–1801: the Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania. 1802–1974: the Pamphlet Laws (Laws of the General Assembly). Both from the scans published by the Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau, which link to each original page. 1975 onward: the General Assembly’s own record of legislation enacted, which adds approval dates and bill numbers. Years the Bureau hasn’t indexed act by act come from the annual Laws of the General Assembly as scanned by the Internet Archive and Google Books: we split each volume into acts by their approval lines, and each one links to its scanned page. Before 1975 each year’s appropriation acts were scanned as one bundle, so they aren’t listed one by one. Proposed constitutional amendments, vetoed bills and reorganization plans are left out. Subject lines are the Bureau’s and the General Assembly’s, not the laws’ full titles.