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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

951 laws of the 1800s

Constitution of 1790

  1. Declaring the marriage of Alexander De Tilly and Maria Matilda De Tille (late Maria Matilda Bingham) to be fraudulent, null and void

    Ch. 2096 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 390 · 1800 · Original text

  2. Erecting part of the county of York into a separate county (named Adams)

    Ch. 2097 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 392 · 1800 · Original text

  3. Transferring the powers of the trustees of the county of Greene to the commissioners of said county

    Ch. 2098 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 396 · 1800 · Original text

  4. Prolong the time for commencing and completing the permanent bridge proposed to be erected over the river Schuylkill at or near Philadelphia

    Ch. 2099 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 397 · 1800 · Original text

  5. Authorize the governor to subscribe for a certain number of copies of an abridgment of the laws of this commonwealth

    Ch. 2100 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 398 · 1800 · Original text

  6. Prescribing a mode to elect or appoint assessors and assistant assessors within the several townships in the county of Westmoreland and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 2101 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 399 · 1800 · Original text

  7. Raising moneys by way of lottery to defray the expense of building certain churches

    Ch. 2102 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 401 · 1800 · Original text

  8. Erecting parts of the counties of Mifflin, Northumberland, Lycoming and Huntingdon into a separate county (named Centre)

    Ch. 2103 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 403 · 1800 · Original text

  9. Compensate the heirs and devisees of John Rankin, late of York county, deceased

    Ch. 2104 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 407 · 1800 · Original text

  10. Appropriate a sum of money to defray the funeral expenses of the late Major General Thomas Mifflin

    Ch. 2105 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 408 · 1800 · Original text

  11. Declare part of Shaver's creek in the county of Huntingdon a public highway

    Ch. 2106 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 409 · 1800 · Original text

  12. Supplement to the several acts relative to establishing town and out lots and selling the same within the reserved tracts adjoining Erie, Franklin, Warren and Waterford

    Ch. 2107 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 410 · 1800 · Original text

  13. Enable the owners and possessors of a certain tract of marsh meadow situate on the west side of Darby Creek and adjoining to the river Delaware in the township of Ridley in the county of Delaware to keep the banks, dams, sluices and floodgates in repair

    Ch. 2108 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 411 · 1800 · Original text

  14. Authorize John B. Palmer and Frederick Heisz to sell and dispose of in fee simple the real estate of Jacob Palmer, a lunatic

    Ch. 2109 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 420 · 1800 · Original text

  15. Dividing the city of Philadelphia into wards and allowing an additional inspector to each of the said wards and for other purposes

    Ch. 2110 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 421 · 1800 · Original text

  16. Annex part of Bedford county to the county of Somerset

    Ch. 2111 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 424 · 1800 · Original text

  17. Authorizing the commissioners of Northampton County to receive for a limited time the toll therein mentioned from travelers and others passing over the bridge erected over the Lehigh where the road leading from Easton to Philadelphia crosses the same

    Ch. 2112 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 426 · 1800 · Original text

  18. Declaring Big Schuylkill a public highway

    Ch. 2113 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 429 · 1800 · Original text

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

    Ch. 2114 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 430 · 1800 · Original text

  20. Erect the township of Washington in the county of Franklin into a separate election district and to remove the place of holding the annual elections in the district composed of Plum and Versailles townships in the county of Allegheny

    Ch. 2115 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 430 · 1800 · Original text

  21. Alter the time for the register-general and the state treasurer to exhibit a statement of the accounts of their respective offices to the legislature

    Ch. 2116 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 431 · 1800 · Original text

  22. Authorize the corporations of the city of Philadelphia and the district of Southwark to enroll their public ordinances in the office for recording of deeds in the county of Philadelphia

    Ch. 2117 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 432 · 1800 · Original text

  23. Grant restitution to John Boggs, James Boggs and William Atkins for lost certificates

    Ch. 2118 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 433 · 1800 · Original text

  24. Provide for the enumeration of the taxable inhabitants and slaves within this commonwealth

    Ch. 2119 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 434 · 1800 · Original text

  25. Repeal in part the act entitled "An act to regulate fences and to encourage the raising of swine."

    Ch. 2120 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 437 · 1800 · Original text

  26. Revive and amend an act entitled "An act to enable the governor of this commonwealth to incorporate a company for the purpose of promoting the cultivation of vines and for other purposes therein mentioned."

    Ch. 2121 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 438 · 1800 · Original text

  27. Authorize the electors of the district of Southwark and the electors of the township of the Northern Liberties each to choose four inspectors and the township of Germantown to choose one additional inspector to serve at the general elections

    Ch. 2122 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 440 · 1800 · Original text

  28. Incorporate the town of Frankford in the county of Philadelphia into a borough

    Ch. 2123 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 440 · 1800 · Original text

  29. Enable the executors of John Stein and the administratrix of Samuel M'Cammon, deceased, to make certain conveyances

    Ch. 2124 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 446 · 1800 · Original text

  30. Empower the commissioners of Chester county to sell certain lots of ground belonging to the county and also to purchase for the use of the county a lot on the west side of the gaol

    Ch. 2125 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 448 · 1800 · Original text

  31. Authorize Christian Bear to erect a mill-dam in Swatara creek in the county of Dauphin

    Ch. 2126 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 449 · 1800 · Original text

  32. Vesting in the corporation of the city of Philadelphia for the use of the city a certain lot of ground therein described

    Ch. 2127 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 451 · 1800 · Original text

  33. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for establishing a nightly watch, providing lamps and supporting pumps for public use at a common charge within a certain part of the township of the Northern Liberties of the city of Philadelphia."

    Ch. 2128 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 452 · 1800 · Original text

  34. Repeal "An act for the limitation of actions to be brought for the inheritance or possession of real property or upon penal acts of assembly" where title has been claimed under the Susquehanna Company or the State of Connecticut

    Ch. 2129 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 453 · 1800 · Original text

  35. Erect certain parts of Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington and Lycoming counties into separate counties (named Beaver, Butler, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Warren, Venango and Armstrong)

    Ch. 2130 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 454 · 1800 · Original text

  36. Declaring the power and authority given by any last will and testament to executors to sell and convey real estates to be and remain in the survivors or survivor of them unless otherwise expressed in the will of the testator and for other purposes

    Ch. 2131 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 466 · 1800 · Original text

  37. Extend the time limited by the act entitled "An act for the limitation of actions to be brought for the inheritance or possession of real property or upon penal acts of assembly."

    Ch. 2132 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 468 · 1800 · Original text

  38. Grant a sum of money to the trustees of the academy of Canonsburg in Washington county

    Ch. 2133 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 469 · 1800 · Original text

  39. Appropriate a sum of money for opening the road of M'Connelsburg in Bedford county to the state road near the top of Ray's hill

    Ch. 2134 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 470 · 1800 · Original text

  40. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for raising, by way of lottery a sum not exceeding $10,000 for the purpose of completing the building of the roman catholic church of Saint Augustine in the city of Philadelphia."

    Ch. 2135 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 471 · 1800 · Original text

  41. Extend the act entitled "A supplement to an act for establishing an explicit fee bill."

    Ch. 2136 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 472 · 1800 · Original text

  42. Extend the time for patenting lands

    Ch. 2137 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 473 · 1800 · Original text

  43. Supplement to "An act for offering compensation to the Pennsylvania claimants of certain lands within the seventeen townships in the county of Luzerne and for other purposes therein mentioned."

    Ch. 2138 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 473 · 1800 · Original text

  44. Authorize Isaac Meason and Zachariah Connell and their heirs and assigns to erect, build and maintain a toll bridge across the Youghiogheny river at Connellsville in Fayette county

    Ch. 2139 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 475 · 1800 · Original text

  45. Supplement to an act entitled "An act erecting part of the county of York into a separate county (named Adams)."

    Ch. 2140 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 478 · 1800 · Original text

  46. Vesting one of the city lots therein mentioned in trustees for the use of the Fourth Presbyterian church in the city of Philadelphia

    Ch. 2141 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 480 · 1800 · Original text

  47. Further supplement to the act entitled "An act to establish the judicial courts of this commonwealth."

    Ch. 2142 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 481 · 1800 · Original text

  48. Supplement to the act vesting certain powers in the judges of the supreme court

    Ch. 2143 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 481 · 1800 · Original text

  49. Further supplement to the 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. 2144 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 482 · 1800 · Original text

  50. Altering the times of holding certain courts within this state

    Ch. 2145 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 486 · 1800 · Original text

  51. Provide for opening and improving the road from David Beale's in Mifflin county to George M'Mullin's in Shearman's Valley in Cumberland county

    Ch. 2146 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 487 · 1800 · Original text

  52. Authorize the governor to appoint commissioners to sell the house intended for the accommodation of the president of the United States and the lots adjacent thereto

    Ch. 2147 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 488 · 1800 · Original text

  53. Provide for the payment of certain expenses of the executive department of government for the present year and making sundry other appropriations

    Ch. 2148 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 491 · 1800 · Original text

  54. Direct in behalf of this state the manner of appointing electors of a president and vice-president of the United States

    Ch. 2149 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 493 · 1800 · Original text

  55. Erecting certain election districts within the county of Luzerne

    Ch. 2150 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 495 · 1800 · Original text

  56. Raise by way of lottery a sum of money to complete a church lately built in the village of New Holland

    Ch. 2151 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 496 · 1800 · Original text

  57. Erect a certain election district in the county of Wayne

    Ch. 2152 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 497 · 1800 · Original text

  58. Change the place of holding elections in the fourth election district in Fayette county

    Ch. 2153 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 497 · 1800 · Original text

  59. Erecting two election districts and enlarging the bounds of another district in the county of Washington within this commonwealth

    Ch. 2154 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 498 · 1800 · Original text

  60. Erect a new election district in the county of Huntingdon and for other purposes

    Ch. 2155 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 499 · 1800 · Original text

  61. Regulate the fisheries in the river Juniata and its branches

    Ch. 2156 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 501 · 1801 · Original text

  62. Altering and erecting certain election districts in the county of Northumberland

    Ch. 2157 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 502 · 1801 · Original text

  63. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for erecting part of the counties of Mifflin, Northumberland, Lycoming and Huntingdon into a separate county (named Centre)."

    Ch. 2158 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 503 · 1801 · Original text

  64. Erect a new election district in the county of Somerset and for other purposes

    Ch. 2159 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 505 · 1801 · Original text

  65. Relief of Isaac Van Horne

    Ch. 2160 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 506 · 1801 · Original text

  66. Relief of Abraham Morrow

    Ch. 2161 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 506 · 1801 · Original text

  67. Authorize James Hulings, his heirs or assigns, to erect a wing-dam on French creek in Venango county

    Ch. 2162 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 507 · 1801 · Original text

  68. Authorize Roger Alden to erect a wing-dam on French creek in the county of Crawford

    Ch. 2163 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 509 · 1801 · Original text

  69. Erect the county of Adams into certain election districts

    Ch. 2164 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 510 · 1801 · Original text

  70. Declare Neshanock creek in the county of Mercer a public highway

    Ch. 2165 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 511 · 1801 · Original text

  71. Erect the townships of Blockley and Kingsessing in the county of Philadelphia into a separate election district

    Ch. 2166 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 512 · 1801 · Original text

  72. Erecting the township of Anvil and part of the township of Londonderry in the county of Dauphin into an election district

    Ch. 2167 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 513 · 1801 · Original text

  73. Supplement to an act entitled "An act to provide for opening and improving the road from David Beale's in Mifflin county to George M'Mullin's in Shearman's Valley in Cumberland county."

    Ch. 2168 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 513 · 1801 · Original text

  74. Supplement to an act entitled "An act to enable Thomas Jones and Peter Filbert of the county of Berks or the survivor of them to convey and assure the lots of ground therein mentioned."

    Ch. 2169 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 514 · 1801 · Original text

  75. Relief of John Konkapot, junior

    Ch. 2170 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 515 · 1801 · Original text

  76. Supplement to an act entitled "An act to revive and amend an act entitled 'An act to enable the governor of this commonwealth to incorporate a company for the purpose of promoting the cultivation of vines and for other purposes therein mentioned.' "

    Ch. 2171 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 516 · 1801 · Original text

  77. Repeal so much of an act entitled "An act authorizing certain lotteries" as empowers the commissioners therein named to raise a sum of money for erecting piers for securing the banks of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers at Pittsburgh

    Ch. 2172 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 517 · 1801 · Original text

  78. Erect part of the county of Allegheny into a separate election district

    Ch. 2173 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 518 · 1801 · Original text

  79. Facilitate the settlement of the accounts of former and present county treasurers for arrears of state taxes

    Ch. 2174 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 519 · 1801 · Original text

  80. Authorize Anthony Altman and Michael Rugh, trustees of the Lutheran congregation in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, to complete a title for land

    Ch. 2175 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 520 · 1801 · Original text

  81. Supplement to the several acts passed to provide for the settlement of the public accounts

    Ch. 2176 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 522 · 1801 · Original text

  82. Ascertain part of the lines between Lancaster and Chester counties

    Ch. 2177 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 523 · 1801 · Original text

  83. Erect and regulate sundry election districts in the county of York

    Ch. 2178 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 524 · 1801 · Original text

  84. Enable the governor to incorporate a company for making an artificial road from the city of Philadelphia through Germantown to the ten mile stone on Chestnut Hill and from thence to the new stone bridge over Perkiomen creek in the county of Montgomery

    Ch. 2179 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 525 · 1801 · Original text

  85. Supplement to an act entitled "An act to authorize the inhabitants of the Northern Liberties within a certain described part thereof to regulate the streets, lanes and alleys within the same and for other purposes therein mentioned."

    Ch. 2180 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 540 · 1801 · Original text

  86. Empower and authorize the board of health to dispose of certain property on State Island and for other purposes

    Ch. 2181 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 541 · 1801 · Original text

  87. Supplementary to an act entitled "An act to prevent intrusions on lands within the counties of Northampton, Northumberland and Luzerne."

    Ch. 2182 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 542 · 1801 · Original text

  88. Vesting a moiety of one of the city lots therein mentioned in the minister, trustees, elders and deacons of the German reformed congregation in the city of Philadelphia

    Ch. 2183 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 547 · 1801 · Original text

  89. Authorize and direct the commissioners of the county of Philadelphia to sell and convey a certain piece of ground therein described and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Ch. 2184 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 548 · 1801 · Original text

  90. Relief of Peter Wikoff, Jonathan Bayard Smith and others

    Ch. 2185 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 548 · 1801 · Original text

  91. Incorporate a company for the purpose of cutting and making a canal between the river Delaware and the Chesapeake Bay, to authorize the clearing of obstructions in the river Susquehanna down to the Maryland line and for other purposes

    Ch. 2186 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 549 · 1801 · Original text

  92. Re-annex part of Franklin township in the county of Westmoreland to the fifth election district in said county

    Ch. 2187 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 554 · 1801 · Original text

  93. Erect the county of Warren and parts of Crawford and Venango counties into separate election districts

    Ch. 2188 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 554 · 1801 · Original text

  94. Provide for defraying the expense of surveying the islands in the Allegheny and Ohio rivers and the several reserved tracts of Erie, Waterford, Franklin and Warren

    Ch. 2189 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 555 · 1801 · Original text

  95. Authorize the erection of a bridge over the Little Juniata river in the county of Huntingdon

    Ch. 2190 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 556 · 1801 · Original text

  96. Authorizing the purchase of the stone bridge erected by Christian Binkley across the river Conestoga for public use

    Ch. 2191 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 557 · 1801 · Original text

  97. Extending the limits of the borough of Bristol in the county of Bucks and for other purposes

    Ch. 2192 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 558 · 1801 · Original text

  98. Authorizing the governor to appoint commissioners to ascertain the boundary lines between the counties of Northumberland, Lycoming and Luzerne

    Ch. 2193 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 559 · 1801 · Original text

  99. Further supplement to the act entitled "An act for directing the mode of distributing the donation lands promised to the troops of this commonwealth."

    Ch. 2194 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 560 · 1801 · Original text

  100. Directing the place of holding the elections in Londonderry township in the county of Bedford

    Ch. 2195 · 16 Pa. Stat. at Large 562 · 1801 · 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.