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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. Establish the places for holding the courts of justice in the counties of Armstrong, Butler and Mercer

    Act 83 of 1802 · 1802 · Original text

  2. Provide for the distribution of the laws and journals of the General Assembly of this Commonwealth

    Act 84 of 1802 · 1802 · Original text

  3. Laying out, making and keeping in repair the public roads and highways within this Commonwealth and for laying out private roads

    Act 85 of 1802 · 1802 · Original text

  4. Maintaining the territorial rights of this State and protect the property of persons holding lands under the same

    Act 86 of 1802 · 1802 · Original text

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

    Act 87 of 1802 · 1802 · Original text

  6. More certain administration of justice

    Act 88 of 1802 · 1802 · Original text

  7. Regulation of the militia of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    Act 89 of 1802 · 1802 · Original text

  8. Authorize the governor to subscribe for a certain number of copies of laws of this Commonwealth

    Act 90 of 1802 · 1802 · Original text

  9. Authorize the sale of provisions, vegetables and fruit in the markets of any city, borough or corporate town within this Commonwealth

    Act 91 of 1802 · 1802 · Original text

  10. Enable purchasers at sheriff's or coroner's sales to obtain possession

    Act 92 of 1802 · 1802 · Original text

  11. Provide for the payment of certain expenses of the Executive Department and for other purposes

    Act 93 of 1802 · 1802 · Original text

  12. Resolutions

    Resolution of 1802 · 1802 · Original text

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

    Act 94 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  14. Altering the place of holding the general election in the district composed of Plumb and part of Versailles township, in Allegheny county

    Act 95 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  15. Altering the place for holding elections in the district commonly called Silver Spring district in Cumberland county

    Act 96 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  16. Erect part of Beaver county, into separate election districts

    Act 97 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  17. Erect Milford township, in the county of Somerset, into a separate election district

    Act 98 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  18. Supplement to the act, entitled "An act, to erect the town of Lebanon, in the county of Dauphin, into a borough"

    Act 99 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  19. Further to prolong the time for erecting a permanent Bridge over the river Schuylkill, at Philadelphia

    Act 100 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  20. Erect part of Greenfield township, in the county of Erie, into a separate election district

    Act 101 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  21. Altering the place of holding the general elections in Noblesburgh district, in the county of Allegheny

    Act 102 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  22. Authorise Abraham Landis, to erect a mill-dam in Swatara creek, in the county of Dauphin

    Act 103 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  23. Authorising Hugh Beaty, acting administrator of James Beaty, to convey certain lots adjoining New-Berlin, in Northumberland county

    Act 104 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  24. Grant James Moore, a fractional part of the reserved tract of land, at the mounth of Big Beaver creek

    Act 105 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  25. Dissolve the marriage contract between Alexander Dick and Catherine his wife, late Catharine Wolf

    Act 106 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  26. Supplement to the several acts relating to the acknowledgement or proof of deeds and other writings

    Act 107 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  27. Alter the place of holding the general elections in Buffaloe township, Armstrong county

    Act 108 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  28. Enable the Governor to incorporate a company for opening the navigation of Conecocheague creek

    Act 109 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  29. Erecting that part of Pine township, in Allegheny county, not included within the seventh election district, into a separate election district

    Act 110 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  30. Raise by way of lottery, a sum of money to defray the expense of rebuiding a church in the borough of York

    Act 111 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  31. Authorise Charles Smith, of the borough of Lancaster, his heirs and assigns, to erect and maintain a wing-dam in the river Juniata

    Act 112 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  32. Supplement to the act to enable the Governor to incoporate a company to make an artificial road from the city of Philadelphia through Germantown, to the ten mile stone on Chestnut-hill, and the new stone bridge over Perkiomen creek, in Montgomery county

    Act 113 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  33. Erect a new election district in the county of Crawford

    Act 114 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  34. Enable the Governor to incorporate a company for making an artificial road from the borough of Easton, in the county of Northampton, to the town of Wilkes-barre, in the county of Luzerne

    Act 115 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  35. Authorising William Wright, to lead off and use the part of the waters of the Susquehanna, on his own land, in York county

    Act 116 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  36. Authorise Samuel Bell and Nicholas Gerst, their heirs and assigns respectively, to erect mill-dams on Swatara creek, in the county of Dauphin

    Act 117 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  37. Settling the accounts of the trustees of Wayne county, and vesting the powers of said trustees in the county commmissioners

    Act 118 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  38. Vest in Sophia Biddle, for the use of herself and children, certain parts of the forfeited estate of John Biddle

    Act 119 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  39. Appointing four trustees, in addition to those heretofore appointed, for the county of Beaver, and for other purposes

    Act 120 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  40. Authorise and empower the commissioners of the county of Somerset, to sell and convey four certain lots of ground, and for other purposes

    Act 121 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  41. Provide for filling the vacancy in the office of State-Treasurer, occasioned by the death of Jacob Carpenter, esquire

    Act 122 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  42. Establishing the compensation of the Deputy Secretary of this Commonwealth

    Act 123 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

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

    Act 124 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  44. Dissolving the marriage between John Alexander and Hannah his wife

    Act 125 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  45. Authorise the electors of the sixth election district in the county of Huntingdon, to hold their general elections at the house of James Entreken

    Act 126 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  46. Supplement to an act to incorporate a company for the purpose of cutting and making a canal between the river Delaware and Chesapeake bay

    Act 127 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  47. Authorise the surviving Commisioners, names in certain Commissions of Bankruptcy, to proceed in the execution of the said Commissions, and for other purposes

    Act 128 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  48. Establishing and confirming the place for holding the courts of justice, and for erecting the public buildings for the county of Butler

    Act 129 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  49. Raise by lottery, for the purpose of completing the building of the Bustleton Academy, in the county of Philadelphia

    Act 130 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  50. Further supplement to an act to erect the town of Sunbury, in the county of Northumerland, into a borough

    Act 131 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  51. Erect a new election district in the county of Dauphin, and to alter the place of holding general elections for the two adjoining districts

    Act 132 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  52. Erecting one new election district, and making alterations in other districts, Northumberland county

    Act 133 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  53. Empower Samuel Miles, to sell and convey certain real estate in the same act mentioned, and for other purposes

    Act 134 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  54. Erecting Bethel township, in the county of Berks into an election district

    Act 135 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  55. Supplement to the Militia law

    Act 136 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  56. Erect the town of Chambersburg, in the county of Franklin, into a borough

    Act 137 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  57. Erecting certain election districts in Cumberland county

    Act 138 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  58. Erect the townships of Pennsbury, Kennet, East-Marlborough and Newlin, in the county of Chester, into a separate election district

    Act 139 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  59. Authorise any person or persons owning lands adjoining navigable streams of water, declared public highways, to erect dams upon such streams, for mills or other water-works

    Act 140 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  60. Establishing and confirming the places for holding the courts of justice and for erecting the public buildings for the county of Mercer

    Act 141 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  61. Enable the Governor to incorporate a company to make an artificial road from the Rising Sun tavern through Shoemakerstown, to the Red Lion on the old York Road

    Act 142 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  62. Enable the Governor to incorporate a company for making an artificial road from the Northern Liberties of the city of Philadelphia, through Frankford and Bristol, to the ferry at Morrisville, on the river Delaware

    Act 143 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  63. Authorise the several Courts of Quarter Sessions within their respective counties, to lay off, alter and divide townships, and for other purposes

    Act 144 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  64. Enable to Governor to incorporate a company for making an artificial road beginning at or near Downingstown, in the county of Chester to Cornwall Furnace, in the county of Dauphin, and from thence to the borough of Harrisburgh

    Act 145 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  65. Relief of Dickinson College

    Act 146 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  66. Authorise the Commissioners of Montgomery county and their successors in office, to raise money by toll for paying a part of the expenses of erecting a bridge over Manatawny creek

    Act 147 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  67. Relief of Doctor Robert Johnson

    Act 148 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  68. Supplement to an act to empower and direct Ann M Farren, John Agnew and William McClean, administrators of the estate of Amos McGinley deceased, to convey certain lands in York county to sundry persons

    Act 149 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  69. Raising by way of lottery, a sum, for the purpose of discharging debts owing by the Trustees of the German religious society of Roman Catholics, of the Holy Trinity church, in the city of Philadelphia, and to support a school under their patronage

    Act 150 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  70. Relating to County Treasurers

    Act 151 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  71. Incorporate that part of the township of the Northern Liberties, lying between the west side of Sixth-street and the river Delaware, and between Vine-street and Cohocksink creek

    Act 152 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  72. Directing Sheriffs and Coroners to give sufficient sureties for the faithful execution of their official duities, and for other purposes

    Act 153 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  73. Enable Martin Hocker, to obtain title to a lot of land in the township of Paxton, and county of Dauphin

    Act 154 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  74. Consolidation and amendment of the laws, as far as they respect the Poor of the city of Philadelphia, the distric of Southwark, and the township of the Northern Liberties

    Act 155 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  75. Establish a Board of Wardens for the port of Philadelphia, and for the regulation of pilots and pilotages, and for other purposes

    Act 156 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  76. Authorising the Secretary of the Land-office and the Attorney-General, to recover the fees due on warrants and patents remaining in the Land-office

    Act 157 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  77. Supplement to an act for the benefit of the estate of Sarah Caldwell

    Act 158 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  78. Enabling certain trustees to sell and dispose of the real estate of David Hayes, a lunatic

    Act 159 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  79. Supplement to an act to prevent the exportation of bad or unmerchantable staves, heading, boards and timber

    Act 160 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  80. Erect certain parts of Westmoreland and Lycoming counties, into a separate county

    Act 161 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  81. Granting Peter Smith and Elizabeth his wife, the donation land to which Nicholas Ungerman, a soldier in the fourth Pennsylvania regiment, was by law entitled

    Act 162 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  82. Authorise the commissioners of Northumberland county, to sell and convey in fee simple, a certain lot in the borough of Sunbury

    Act 163 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  83. Affording compensation to Benjamin Alexander, Thomas McMillan and others, for ascertaining the centre of Mercer county

    Act 164 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  84. Declaring the west and westermost branches of the Schuylkill, in the county of Berks, public highways

    Act 165 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  85. Supplement to an act to establish the judicial courts

    Act 166 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  86. Changing the appropriation to improve the road from Turtle Creek to Pittsburg

    Act 167 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  87. Provide for reducing and limiting the number of Associate Judges of the courts of common pleas

    Act 168 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  88. Altering the place of holding elections in the fifth district, in the county of Lancaster

    Act 169 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  89. Authorise the Judges of the court of common pleas of Northampton county, to hold two additional courts annually, in the said county

    Act 170 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  90. Supplement to an act to complete the benevolent intention of the Legislature, by distributing the donation lands to all who are entitled thereto

    Act 171 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  91. Securing the mechanics and others payment for their labor and materials in erecting any house or other building, within the city of Philadelphia, the district of Southwark, and the township of the Northern Liberties

    Act 172 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  92. Establishing an Health Office, and to secure the city and port of Philadelphia from the introduction of pestilential and contagious diseases

    Act 173 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  93. Vest in the devisees of James Parrock, deceased, such parts of the forfeited estate of John Parrock

    Act 174 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  94. Direct the sale of certain unimproved lots, in the city of Philadelphia, and to appropriate the proceeds thereof towards the erection of buildings for the purpose of more completely carrying into effect the penal laws of this State

    Act 175 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  95. Supplement to the act to enable the Justices of the Supreme Court, to hold curcuit courts

    Act 176 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  96. Relating to the claim against Elizabeth Sergeant and Esther Waters, surviving executrixes of David Rittenhouse, esquire, deceased

    Act 177 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  97. Organise the provisional counties of Beaver, Butler, Mercer and Erie, for judicial purposes

    Act 178 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  98. Erect part of South Irwin township, in the county of Venago, into a separate election district

    Act 179 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  99. Erecting certain election districts in the county of Crawford

    Act 180 of 1803 · 1803 · Original text

  100. Establish and confirm the place for holding courts of Justice, and to provide for erecting the public buildings, for the use of Armstrong county

    Act 181 of 1803 · 1803 · 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.