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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. Providing for the appointment of an inspector of staves and heading

    Ch. 1880 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 396 · 1796 · Original text

  2. Establish a ferry over the Juniata river opposite Mifflintown in the county of Mifflin and vesting the right in William Harris and Joseph McClelland, their heirs and assigns

    Ch. 1881 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 397 · 1796 · Original text

  3. Authorize Evan Owen to erect a wing-dam on the north side of Susquehanna river in the counties of Northumberland and Luzerne

    Ch. 1882 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 398 · 1796 · Original text

  4. Establish a ferry over Swatara creek near Hummelstown in the county of Dauphin and for vesting the right in Christopher Ernst and Samuel Sherer, their heirs or assigns

    Ch. 1883 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 399 · 1796 · Original text

  5. Annul the charter of incorporation of the first and third Presbyterian churches in the city of Philadelphia

    Ch. 1884 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 401 · 1796 · Original text

  6. Provide for the completion of the house intended for the accommodation of the president of the United States

    Ch. 1885 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 402 · 1796 · Original text

  7. Establish a public ferry over the river Juniata opposite the town of Huntingdon in the county of Huntingdon and vesting the right in Thomas Whitaker, his heirs and assigns

    Ch. 1886 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 403 · 1796 · Original text

  8. Relief of William Ennis Cortwright

    Ch. 1887 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 404 · 1796 · Original text

  9. Enable the governor of this commonwealth to incorporate a company for making artificial road from Lancaster through Elizabethtown and Middletown to Harrisburg

    Ch. 1888 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 405 · 1796 · Original text

  10. Relief of Owen M'Laughlin and John Skilling

    Ch. 1889 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 420 · 1796 · Original text

  11. Authorize the commissioners of the city and county of Philadelphia to defray the expenses of opening certain roads in the district of Southwark and townships of Moyamensing and Passyunk out of the general taxes of the said city and county

    Ch. 1890 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 421 · 1796 · Original text

  12. Raising by way of lottery the sum of $60,000 for accomplishing the building a stone bridge over the river Schuylkill at the borough of Reading

    Ch. 1891 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 423 · 1796 · Original text

  13. Erect the town of Huntingdon in the county of Huntingdon into a borough

    Ch. 1892 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 424 · 1796 · Original text

  14. Directing the manner, time and places for holding elections for the electors of a president and vice-president of the United States

    Ch. 1893 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 428 · 1796 · Original text

  15. Extend the time for patenting of lands

    Ch. 1894 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 430 · 1796 · Original text

  16. Repealing a law passed September 11, 1786, entitled "An act to relieve the owners of unimproved lands from the inconvenience they are subjected to by the present mode of enforcing the payment of taxes assessed thereon."

    Ch. 1895 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 431 · 1796 · Original text

  17. Enable the governor of this commonwealth to incorporate a company for making an artificial road from an intersection of the Philadelphia and Lancaster turnpike road near the Gap tavern in Lancaster county to Newport and Wilmington in Delaware

    Ch. 1896 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 432 · 1796 · Original text

  18. Further supplement to the act entitled "An act to enjoin certain duties on the secretary of the commonwealth and for other purposes."

    Ch. 1897 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 448 · 1796 · Original text

  19. Increase the salaries of the judges of the supreme court, the secretary of the commonwealth and presidents of the courts of common pleas

    Ch. 1898 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 448 · 1796 · Original text

  20. Provide for a review of that part of a road laid out from Philadelphia to the borough of York, by West Chester, Strasburg and the Blue Rock, which lies between Fawkes' tavern and West Chester

    Ch. 1899 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 449 · 1796 · Original text

  21. Laying out and opening sundry roads within this commonwealth and for other purposes

    Ch. 1900 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 450 · 1796 · Original text

  22. Provide for altering the buildings appropriated as a gaol for criminals

    Ch. 1901 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 451 · 1796 · Original text

  23. Making appropriations and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1902 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 452 · 1796 · Original text

  24. Amend and repeal certain provisions in the health laws of this commonwealth

    Ch. 1903 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 456 · 1796 · Original text

  25. Annul and repeal so much of any charter or law of this state as empowers the inhabitants of the borough of Bristol in the county of Bucks to hold and keep fairs within the same

    Ch. 1904 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 461 · 1796 · Original text

  26. Alter and amend the several acts of the general assembly of this commonwealth incorporating the city of Philadelphia

    Ch. 1905 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 462 · 1796 · Original text

  27. Authorize Martin Nissly to erect a wing-dam on the west side of Conestoga river in the county of Lancaster

    Ch. 1906 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 464 · 1796 · Original text

  28. Authorize the erection of a bridge over the river Lehigh at the borough of Easton in the county of Northampton

    Ch. 1907 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 465 · 1796 · Original text

  29. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for extending the benefits experienced from the institution of the Pennsylvania Hospital."

    Ch. 1908 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 466 · 1796 · Original text

  30. Respecting the public landings and wharves in the township of the Northern Liberties in the county of Philadelphia

    Ch. 1909 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 468 · 1796 · Original text

  31. Erect Uniontown in the county of Fayette into a borough

    Ch. 1910 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 469 · 1796 · Original text

  32. Contribute to the relief of the sufferers by the late fires in the city of Savannah in the state of Georgia

    Ch. 1911 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 474 · 1796 · Original text

  33. Relief of Henry Penfinger

    Ch. 1912 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 474 · 1797 · Original text

  34. Exonerate the district of Armagh, formerly in the county of Cumberland but now in Mifflin county, from sundry state taxes

    Ch. 1913 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 475 · 1797 · Original text

  35. Enable John Miller to erect a mill-dam across Swatara creek abutting on his own land about four miles below Jonestown in the county of Dauphin

    Ch. 1914 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 476 · 1797 · Original text

  36. Authorize the judges of Greene county or a majority of them to hold their courts in or near the town of Waynesburg

    Ch. 1915 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 477 · 1797 · Original text

  37. Authorize Paul Frazer to erect a dam across Shearman's creek

    Ch. 1916 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 478 · 1797 · Original text

  38. Relief of Robert Sample

    Ch. 1917 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 479 · 1797 · Original text

  39. Afford relief to certain distressed French emigrants

    Ch. 1918 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 480 · 1797 · Original text

  40. Raising by way of lottery the sum of $20,000 to be applied to the erection of a stone arch bridge over Perkiomen creek in the county of Montgomery on the road leading from Philadelphia to the borough of Reading

    Ch. 1919 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 481 · 1797 · Original text

  41. Devise a particular form of promissory note not liable to any plea of defalcation or set-off

    Ch. 1920 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 484 · 1797 · Original text

  42. Declare Cohocksink creek a public highway

    Ch. 1921 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 484 · 1797 · Original text

  43. Enable the owners and occupiers of a certain tract of marsh and meadow land situate in the township of Derby and county of Delaware to keep the banks, dams, sluices and floodgates in repair and to raise a fund to defray the expenses thereof

    Ch. 1922 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 485 · 1797 · Original text

  44. Declaring part of Fishing creek in Lycoming county a public highway

    Ch. 1923 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 494 · 1797 · Original text

  45. Supplement to "An act to enable the president and managers of the Schuylkill and Susquehanna navigation and the Delaware and Schuylkill canal navigation to raise by way of lottery the sum of $400,000 ... incorporation mentioned."

    Ch. 1924 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 495 · 1797 · Original text

  46. Amend the act entitled "An act for incorporating the society formed for the relief of poor, aged and infirm masters of ships, their widows and children."

    Ch. 1925 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 495 · 1797 · Original text

  47. Authorize Robert Dean and Joseph Smith to erect a wing-dam on the south side of the Frankstown branch of the Juniata in Huntingdon county

    Ch. 1926 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 497 · 1797 · Original text

  48. Raising, by way of lottery a sum not exceeding $20,000 to be applied to defraying the expenses of paving the streets in the borough of Lancaster in the county of Lancaster

    Ch. 1927 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 498 · 1797 · Original text

  49. Extend the period heretofore allowed for applications for donation lands

    Ch. 1928 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 500 · 1797 · Original text

  50. Supplement to the penal laws of this state

    Ch. 1929 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 501 · 1797 · Original text

  51. Afford relief to Washington Academy in the county of Washington

    Ch. 1930 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 501 · 1797 · Original text

  52. Extend an act entitled "A 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. 1931 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 502 · 1797 · Original text

  53. Enable the administrators of the estate of James Patterson, deceased, by leave of the court of common pleas of Franklin county to convey a certain tract of land to George Crider

    Ch. 1932 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 503 · 1797 · Original text

  54. Erection of certain election districts and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1933 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 505 · 1797 · Original text

  55. Release all claims on the part of the commonwealth to certain lands within the Manor or reputed Manor of Maske in the county of York

    Ch. 1934 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 509 · 1797 · Original text

  56. Supplementary to the act entitled "An act to provide for distributing the laws of the United States and certain laws of the commonwealth and for reprinting the provincial and state laws," passed prior to October 2, 1781

    Ch. 1935 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 511 · 1797 · Original text

  57. Provide for educating John Konkapot, junior, a youth of the Stockbridge tribe of Oneida Indians and for the relief of John Konkapot, senior

    Ch. 1936 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 513 · 1797 · Original text

  58. Erect the town of Sunbury in the county of Northumberland into a borough

    Ch. 1937 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 514 · 1797 · Original text

  59. Repeal an act passed March 31,1795, entitled "An act to ascertain the boundary lines of a tract of land in York county called Carrol's Delight and to provide for surveying the same and for other purposes therein mentioned."

    Ch. 1938 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 518 · 1797 · Original text

  60. Incorporate the citizens of this state members of the aggregate corporation for the relief of the widows and children of clergymen of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America

    Ch. 1939 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 519 · 1797 · Original text

  61. Provide arms for the use of the commonwealth

    Ch. 1940 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 524 · 1797 · Original text

  62. Authorize the governor of this commonwealth to incorporate a company for erecting a bridge over the river Lehigh near the town of Northampton

    Ch. 1941 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 527 · 1797 · Original text

  63. Erection of an election district in Northampton county

    Ch. 1942 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 535 · 1797 · Original text

  64. Erect a separate election district in the county of Lancaster

    Ch. 1943 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 535 · 1797 · Original text

  65. Supplement to the act entitled "An act to provide for altering the buildings appropriated as gaol for criminals."

    Ch. 1944 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 536 · 1797 · Original text

  66. Making a new arrangement of election districts in the county of Montgomery

    Ch. 1945 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 537 · 1797 · Original text

  67. Provide for the settlement of the estates of deceased officers and soldiers who served in the Pennsylvania line during the late war

    Ch. 1946 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 538 · 1797 · Original text

  68. Regulate the manner of selling loaf bread and to repeal certain existing laws respecting the same

    Ch. 1947 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 541 · 1797 · Original text

  69. Erection of certain election districts in the county of Berks

    Ch. 1948 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 542 · 1797 · Original text

  70. Supplementary to the act entitled "An act directing the descent of intestates' real estates and distribution of their personal estates and for other purposes therein mentioned."

    Ch. 1949 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 543 · 1797 · Original text

  71. Distribution of certain moneys recovered under the late bankruptcy laws of this commonwealth

    Ch. 1950 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 550 · 1797 · Original text

  72. Establish a separate representation for the counties of Somerset, Lycoming and Greene to represent them in the house of representatives of this commonwealth

    Ch. 1951 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 552 · 1797 · Original text

  73. Making provision for the employment of an additional number of clerks in the office of surveyor general, receiver general and secretary of the land office

    Ch. 1952 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 553 · 1797 · Original text

  74. Continue and act entitled "An act for opening and better amending and keeping in repair the public roads and highways within this province."

    Ch. 1953 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 554 · 1797 · Original text

  75. Directing the sale of such of the barrack and city lots as remain property of the commonwealth

    Ch. 1954 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 554 · 1797 · Original text

  76. Authorize Thomas Proctor to commence a suit against this commonwealth upon certain claims which he has against the same

    Ch. 1955 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 556 · 1797 · Original text

  77. Amend and continue an act entitled "An act to establish a board of wardens for the port of Philadelphia and for other purposes therein mentioned."

    Ch. 1956 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 557 · 1797 · Original text

  78. Empower Jonathan Jarret of the county of Montgomery to sell and convey certain lands therein specified

    Ch. 1957 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 560 · 1797 · Original text

  79. Appoint a trustee for Mifflin county

    Ch. 1958 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 561 · 1797 · Original text

  80. Making appropriations and to enjoin certain duties on the comptroller general, register general and state treasurer as well as for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 1959 · 15 Pa. Stat. at Large 562 · 1797 · Original text

  81. Extending the powers of the judges of the supreme court and common pleas

    Ch. 1961 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 5 · 1798 · Original text

  82. Empower Walter Clark, William Gray and William Wilson to sell and convey a certain lot of ground in the town of Lewisburg in Northumberland county and for other purposes

    Ch. 1962 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 6 · 1798 · Original text

  83. Defraying the expense of surveying five tracts of land heretofore granted to Cornplanter, a chief of the Seneca nation

    Ch. 1963 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 7 · 1798 · Original text

  84. Altering certain election districts in the county of Berks

    Ch. 1964 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 8 · 1798 · Original text

  85. Altering the places for holding elections in the fourth district in the county of Dauphin

    Ch. 1965 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 9 · 1798 · Original text

  86. Relief of David Jones

    Ch. 1966 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 9 · 1798 · Original text

  87. Empowering the commissioners of Westmoreland county to appoint assessors and assistant assessors in sundry townships thereof for the purpose therein mentioned

    Ch. 1967 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 10 · 1798 · Original text

  88. Appointment and regulation of constables in the township of the Northern Liberties in the county of Philadelphia

    Ch. 1968 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 11 · 1798 · Original text

  89. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for incorporating the Society formed for the relief of distressed and decayed pilots, their widows and children."

    Ch. 1969 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 13 · 1798 · Original text

  90. Appoint a trustee in the county of Mifflin

    Ch. 1970 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 14 · 1798 · Original text

  91. Provide for the erection of houses for the employment and support of the poor in the counties of Chester and Lancaster

    Ch. 1971 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 15 · 1798 · Original text

  92. Provide for settling the compensations of sundry members of the legislature at the late session and to authorize the speakers of the respective houses to draw warrants in their favor for the sums found due

    Ch. 1972 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 22 · 1798 · Original text

  93. Enable the governor of this commonwealth to incorporate a company for the purpose of improving the navigation of the river Lehigh

    Ch. 1973 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 23 · 1798 · Original text

  94. Authorize the governor of this commonwealth to incorporate a company for erecting a permanent bridge over the river Schuylkill at or near the city of Philadelphia

    Ch. 1974 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 36 · 1798 · Original text

  95. Supplement to an act entitled "An act to prevent the exportation of bread and flour not merchantable and for repealing at a certain time all the laws heretofore made for that purpose."

    Ch. 1975 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 46 · 1798 · Original text

  96. Raising by way of lottery a sum not exceeding $5,500 for defraying the expenses of erecting a school house in the township of New Hanover in the county of Montgomery and purchasing a lot and erecting a church in the borough of Harrisburg

    Ch. 1976 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 47 · 1798 · Original text

  97. Authorizing certain lotteries

    Ch. 1977 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 49 · 1798 · Original text

  98. Supplement to the act establishing an explicit fee bill

    Ch. 1978 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 51 · 1798 · Original text

  99. Raising, by way of lottery the sum of $2,400 for the purpose of completing a bridge over Big Swatara creek at Jonestown

    Ch. 1979 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 52 · 1798 · Original text

  100. Enable the owners and possessors of the Bristol Island Meadows in the township of Bristol and county of Bucks to keep the banks, dams, sluices and flood gates in repair and to raise a fund to defray the expenses thereof

    Ch. 1980 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 53 · 1798 · 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.