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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 part of Wyconisco creek in the county of Dauphin a public highway

    Act 69 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  2. Relief of the supervisors of Waterford township in the county of Erie for the year 1802

    Act 70 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  3. Supplement to an act entitled "An act to provide for the erection of a house for the employment and support of the poor in the county of York."

    Act 71 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  4. Further supplement to an act entitled "An act directing the descents of intestates real estates and distribution of their personal estates and for other purposes therein mentioned."

    Act 72 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  5. Supplement to an act entitled "An act for the consolidation and amendment of the laws as far as they respect the poor of the city of Philadelphia, the district of Southwark and the township of the Northern Liberties."

    Act 73 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  6. Repeal part of certain acts of the general assembly for regulating the fisheries of Conestoga river

    Act 74 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  7. Speedy redemption of certain certificates therein mentioned

    Act 75 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  8. Organize the provisional county of Venango

    Act 76 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  9. Enable the governor to incorporate a company to make an artificial road from the Spring house tavern in Montgomery county through Strawntown in Bucks county to Bethlehem in Northampton county

    Act 77 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  10. Enjoining certain duties on the holders of land warrants not executed and on the holders of unseated lands

    Act 78 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  11. Declaring Wyalusing creek a public highway

    Act 79 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  12. Authorize the inhabitants of Cambria county to elect with the inhabitants of Somerset county

    Act 80 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  13. Declaring parts of the branches of Pine creek in the counties of Tioga and Potter public highways

    Act 81 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  14. Appropriating a sum of money for viewing and opening a road from the town of Somerset in the county of Somerset to Greensburgh in the county of Westmoreland

    Act 82 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  15. Further supplement to an act entitled "An act for the regulation of the militia of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."

    Act 83 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  16. Granting to Thomas Price a lot of donation land

    Act 84 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  17. Afford relief to the academy at Easton in Northampton county

    Act 85 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  18. Authorizing the appointment of commissioners to fix upon a proper site for the seat of justice in Clearfield county

    Act 86 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  19. Concerning election districts

    Act 87 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

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

    Act 88 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  21. Authorizing the governor to subscribe for a certain number of copies of a digest of the laws of this commonwealth in the German language

    Act 89 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  22. Supplement to the act entitled "An act to raise and collect county rates and levies."

    Act 90 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  23. Making an appropriation for the building of a bridge in Somerset county

    Act 91 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  24. Authorizing the holding of additional courts in Berks county

    Act 92 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  25. Encourage the patenting of lands and for other purposes

    Act 93 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  26. Concerning the reputed Manor of Springetsbury in the county of York

    Act 94 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  27. More effectual and speedy recovery of the debt due from the late John Nicholson to this commonwealth

    Act 95 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  28. Supplement to an act entitled "An act to empower the trustees of Crawford county to erect a suitable building for a seminary of learning in the town of Meadville."

    Act 96 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  29. Supplement to the act entitled "An act declaring Tuscarora creek a public highway."

    Act 97 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  30. Authorizing the governor to appoint commissioners for the purpose of laying out a state road from Blair's Gap in Huntingdon County to the western boundary of this state where it crosses the Mahoning branch of Big Beaver creek in Mercer county

    Act 98 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  31. Making appropriations for the expenses of government and payment of certain debts and for other purposes

    Act 99 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  32. Further supplement to the act entitled "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."

    Act 100 of 1805 · 1805 · Original text

  33. Raise by way of lottery a sum of money to extinguish the debts due on the erecting a house of public worship for the use of the Second Baptist Church of Philadelphia established in the Northern Liberties in the County of Philadelphia

    Act 101 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  34. Raise by way of lottery a sum not exceeding six thousand dollars to defray the expenses of erecting s suitable building for English worship and for an English school-house in the Borough of Reading in the County of Berks

    Act 102 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  35. Raise by way of lottery a sum of money to defray the expenses of finishing a church in the town of Annville in the County of Dauphin

    Act 103 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  36. Relief of Arthur St. Clair

    Act 104 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  37. Vesting a title in Sebastian Royer and Michael Myer, and their successors, for ten acres of land in Centre Township, Northumberland County, for the use of a congregation composed of Lutherans and Presbyterians

    Act 105 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  38. Granting a sum of money to the trustees of Bellefonte Academy in Centre County

    Act 106 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  39. Supplement to the several acts of assembly of this commonwealth, relating to the acknowledgment or proof of deeds and other writings

    Act 107 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  40. Authorizing John Biddis to vend his patent rights for manufacturing potato-starch, sago and hair powder, and for opening or reducing offcast woolen clothing to wool

    Act 108 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  41. Altering the place of meeting of the return judges of the district composed of Fayette and Greene counties

    Act 109 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  42. Alter the limits of the borough of Beaver

    Act 110 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  43. Directing the sale of unappropriated islands in such parts of the river Delaware, Ohio and Allegheny and their branches as are by law declared public highways

    Act 111 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  44. Authorize James M'Farlane, David Bowen, Junior, and David Bowen of Samuel of Montgomery township, Franklin county, to make partition of the real estate of Jacob John, deceased, among the devisees of the said Jacob John and their descendants

    Act 112 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  45. Enabling certain trustees to sell and convey the real estate of Enoch Griffeth, a lunatic

    Act 113 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  46. Enable James McComb to sell and convey a certain tract of land in Armstrong township, Indiana County, the property of William Dean, a minor

    Act 114 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  47. Raising by way of lottery the sum of $20,000 for the purpose of discharging the debts of the Bustleton and Smithfield Turnpike Company

    Act 115 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  48. Relief of Catharine Toey

    Act 116 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  49. Further supplement to the act entitled "An act to erect parts of Lycoming, Huntingdon and Somerset counties into separate county districts."

    Act 117 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  50. Dissolving the marriage of Jacob Sell and Eve his wife

    Act 118 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  51. Authorizing the president adjuntas and members of the Hebrew Congregation of the city of Philadelphia to raise by way of lottery a sum of money for the repairs of their synagogue and burial place and for other purposes of relief

    Act 119 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  52. Empower William Pennell, guardian of Matthias Richards Sayres and Edward Smith Sayres, to sell and convey real estate belonging to the said minors

    Act 120 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  53. Further relief of Edmund Milne

    Act 121 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  54. Alter the judiciary system of this Commonwealth

    Act 122 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  55. Authorizing the governor to incorporate a company for making an artificial road from the bank of the river Susquehanna opposite the borough of Harrisburg to Pittsburgh

    Act 123 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  56. Repeal an act entitled "An act declaring Chartier's Creek in the counties of Washington and Allegheny a public highway."

    Act 124 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  57. Establishing an academy in the town of Griersburg in Beaver County

    Act 125 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  58. Relief of the heirs of John Jacob Hirleman, deceased

    Act 126 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  59. Supplement to the act entitled "An act for the relief of Dickinson College."

    Act 127 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  60. Relief of James Ash, esquire, formerly sheriff of the city and county of Philadelphia

    Act 128 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  61. Relief of John Lewis

    Act 129 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  62. Extend the charter of the Philadelphia Bank

    Act 130 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  63. Establish a public ferry over Swatara Creek near its junction with the river Susquehanna in the county of Dauphin and for vesting the right in John Gregg, his heirs and assigns

    Act 131 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  64. Supplementary to the act entitled "An act to alter the judiciary system of this commonwealth."

    Act 132 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  65. Granting a sum of money to the trustees of Jefferson College in the county of Washington

    Act 133 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  66. Declaring Mahantango Creek from the junction of Pine and Deep Creeks in Berks County to its confluence with the river Susquehanna a public highway

    Act 134 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  67. Erect the town of Connellsville in Fayette county into a borough

    Act 135 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  68. Erect the town of Williamsport in the county of Lycoming into a borough

    Act 136 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  69. Ascertain part of the boundary line of Westmoreland and Fayette counties

    Act 137 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  70. Supplement to "An act to enable the governor to incorporate a company for opening a canal and lock navigation between the rivers Schuylkill and Susquehanna by the waters of Tulpehocken, Quittapahilla and Swatara in the counties of Berks and Dauphin."

    Act 138 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  71. Encourage the killing of wolves

    Act 139 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  72. Extending an act entitled "An act regulating and continuing the distribution of donation lands."

    Act 140 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  73. Organize the provisional county of Indiana

    Act 141 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  74. Incorporate the town of Gettysburg in the county of Adams into a borough

    Act 142 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  75. Relief of Joseph Robert Eustache Bunel

    Act 143 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  76. Provide for the erection of a house for the employment and support of the poor in the county of Montgomery

    Act 144 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  77. Granting a sum of money to the Meadville Seminary in the county of Crawford

    Act 145 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  78. Aid of the company for erecting a bridge over the river Delaware at the borough of Easton

    Act 146 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  79. Authorize the governor of this commonwealth to incorporate a company for the purpose of erecting a permanent bridge over the river Schuylkill at or near the place usually called Gray's Ferry

    Act 147 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  80. Authorize the sale of the real estate of Andrew Moore, a lunatic, and for other purposes therein mentioned

    Act 148 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  81. Authorizing the governor to incorporate a company for making the river Conestoga navigable from its confluence with the river Susquehanna to Abraham Hostetter's mill

    Act 149 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  82. Relief of John Welch

    Act 150 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  83. Securing to mechanics and others payment for their labor and materials in erecting any house of other building within the city and county of Philadelphia

    Act 151 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  84. Supplement to the act entitled "An act to enable the governor of this commonwealth to incorporate a company for opening a canal and water communication between the rivers Delaware and Schuylkill and for other purposes therein mentioned."

    Act 152 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  85. Altering the times of holding township elections and meeting of return judges of the general elections

    Act 153 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  86. Authorize Lewis Reese and Thomas Mills to erect a wing dam on the river Schuylkill in the county of Berks

    Act 154 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  87. Authorize the president, managers and company of the Susquehanna and Lehigh Turnpike Road to extend the same and also to construct a branch therefrom

    Act 155 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  88. Supplement to "An act to enable the governor to incorporate a company for making an artificial road by the best and nearest route from the borough of Sunbury in the county of Northumberland to the borough of Reading in the county of Berks."

    Act 156 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  89. Authorizing the governor to contract with John Bioren to print the laws of this commonwealth

    Act 157 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  90. For establishing a health office and to secure the city and port of Philadelphia from the introduction of pestilential and contagious diseases

    Act 158 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  91. Regulating the powers of the justices of the peace in cases of assault and battery

    Act 159 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  92. Relief of Daniel Welker

    Act 160 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  93. Extend to certain turnpike companies therein mentioned the same powers, rights and privileges that are now possessed by the president, managers and company of the Philadelphia and Lancaster turnpike road

    Act 161 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  94. Erect the town plot of Wilkesbarre and its vicinity in the county of Luzerne into a borough

    Act 162 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  95. Directing the sale of certain lands granted for the use of an academy or public school in Beavertown

    Act 163 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  96. Invest two lots and one half lot of ground in the minister, church wardens and vestrymen of Trinity Church in Pittsburgh

    Act 164 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  97. Relief of Daniel Sharp

    Act 165 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  98. Relief of Adam Koch

    Act 166 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  99. Regulate the proceedings of certiorari and for other purposes

    Act 167 of 1806 · 1806 · Original text

  100. Making an additional allowance to the prothonotary of the supreme court of the Eastern District and the prothonotary of the court of common pleas of the city and county of Philadelphia

    Act 168 of 1806 · 1806 · 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.