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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. Raise by way of lottery, a sum of money for the purpose of completing a meeting house in the township of Shamokin, Northumberland county

    Act 7 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  2. Establish a public ferry on the east side of the river Susquehanna in the county of Dauphin, and to vest the right thereof in William Moorhead, his heirs and assigns

    Act 8 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  3. Change the name of John Powel to John Hare Powel

    Act 9 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  4. Supplementary to an act, entitled "An act for establishing the seat of justice in the county of Tioga, and for other purposes."

    Act 10 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  5. Declare certain parts of Muddy creek in the county of Crawford a public highway

    Act 11 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  6. Declaring part of Lackawaxen creek in Wayne county a public highway

    Act 12 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  7. Granting Samuel Koockooyaei a tract of donation land

    Act 13 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  8. Confirm to certain persons holding an island in the river Delaware their title to same

    Act 14 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  9. Alter an act entitled "An act to erect the town of Harrisburg in the county of Dauphin into a borough."

    Act 15 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  10. Incorporate the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of St. John's Church in the City and Vicinity of Philadelphia

    Act 16 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  11. Granting a tract of donation land to James Norris

    Act 17 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  12. Declaring part of Wallenpaupack creek in Wayne county a public highway

    Act 18 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  13. Enable trustees of the German Lutheran Congregation of the townships of Albany and Linn in Berks and Northampton counties to convey to the trustees of the German Reformed Congregation an equal right to a church and tract of land therein described

    Act 19 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  14. Further relief of Charles Thompson

    Act 20 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  15. Relief of Thomas Cox

    Act 21 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  16. Raise by way of lottery a sum of money for the purpose of purchasing a burial ground for the Society of Universalists in the city of Philadelphia and to pay a debt by them contracted in the building a house for public worship and the finishing the same

    Act 22 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  17. Establishing an academy in the borough of Uniontown in the county of Fayette

    Act 23 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  18. Authorizing the court of quarter sessions of Indiana county to direct a review of that part of the state road leading from Blair's Gap to the western boundary line of the state which lies between the town of Indiana and the seventh mile-tree westward

    Act 24 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  19. Relief of Nathaniel Coulter

    Act 25 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  20. Allow further time for completing the Frankford and Bristol turnpike road and erecting a bridge over Neshaminy creek

    Act 26 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  21. Raise by way of lottery a sum not exceeding $2,000 for building a house of religious worship in Limerick Township, Montgomery county

    Act 27 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  22. Relief of Dillaplain Ridgway

    Act 28 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  23. Raise by way of lottery a sum of money for the purpose of finishing the meeting house in Wilkes Barre and for protecting the bank of the river opposite the borough from the encroachments of the river

    Act 29 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  24. Enable Joseph Marshall and William Marshall to sell and convey the real estate of Andrew Marshall, late of Hamilton township, Franklin county, deceased

    Act 30 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  25. Declare masquerades and masqued balls to be common nuisances and to punish those who promote or encourage them

    Act 31 of 1808 · 1808 · Original text

  26. An act supplementary to an act entitled "An act to raise by way of lottery the sum of seven thousand dollars, to enable the company for the purpose of promoting cultivation of vines, to pay their debts and accomplish the object of their association, and

    Act 1 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  27. An act supplementary to an act, entitled "An act to provide for the settlement of public accounts, and for other purposes therein mentioned."

    Act 2 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  28. An act to enable the administrators of Henry Lennox Shepperd, late of the county of Westmoreland, deceased, to convey certain lots of ground to the purchasers thereof.

    Act 3 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  29. An act authorizing Thomas McKean Thompson to sell and convey in fee simple, a certain interest in a tract of donation land therein mentioned.

    Act 4 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  30. An act for the relief of Casper Shaffner.

    Act 5 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  31. An act to amend an act, entitled "An act granting an annuity to Thomas Snowden."

    Act 6 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  32. An act dissolving the marriage of John McClellen and Margaret McClellen his wife.

    Act 7 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  33. An act further extending the act, entitled "An act for the relief of divers inhabitants, of the county of Adams."

    Act 8 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  34. An act vesting a title to a small piece of land in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, in certain trustees, and their successors for the use of a school.

    Act 9 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  35. An act relating to a lien of this commonwealth on the estate of William Nichols, deceased.

    Act 10 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  36. An act authorizing George Bryan to sell and convey a certain lot of ground therein mentioned.

    Act 11 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  37. An act supplementary to an act to enable the governor to incorporate a company for making an artificial road from the city of Philadelphia, by Chad's Ford on Brandywine, to the line of the state, in a direction towards Baltimore."

    Act 12 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  38. An act to incorporate the Philadelphia Society for promoting Agriculture.

    Act 13 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  39. An act to amend an act, entitled "An act granting an annuity to Edward Cavanough."

    Act 14 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  40. A supplement to an act, entitled "An act to regulate the fisheries in the river Delaware, and its branches, and for other purposes."

    Act 15 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  41. An act authorizing Jonathan Bayard Smith, Gavin Hamilton and Peter Le Barbier Duplessis, to convey a lot of ground situate in the city of Philadelphia.

    Act 16 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  42. An act for the relief of the heirs of Frederick Vernon deceased.

    Act 17 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  43. An act authorizing the commissioners of Indiana county, to assess and collect county taxes in the county of Jefferson.

    Act 18 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  44. An act giving additional powers to, and changing the mode of appointment of the inspectors of the prison in Philadelphia, and for other purposes.

    Act 19 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  45. An act to enable Victor Moreau to hold a certain tract of land by him purchased.

    Act 20 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  46. An act authorizing Jacob Kimmel and Abraham Konigmacher, of Lancaster county, to sell and convey certain lands therein mentioned.

    Act 21 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  47. An act confirming the title of Manning Martain, to certain lands therein mentioned.

    Act 22 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  48. An act to enable the Administrators of Basil Brown, late of the county of Fayette deceased, to convey certain lots of ground in and near the town of Brownsville, to the purchasers thereof.

    Act 23 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  49. An act to change the name of Lewis Dorleans to Lewis Emery.

    Act 24 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  50. An act to enable the governor to incorporate a company to make an artificial road by the best and nearest route from the north end of George-street, in the borough of York, to the Canal-Ferry on the river Susquehanna, and from thence up the said river to

    Act 25 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  51. An act to perpetuate the great seal of this commonwealth.

    Act 26 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  52. An act allowing the Philadelphia Bank to establish branches.

    Act 27 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  53. A further supplement to an act, entitled "An act to alter the Judiciary System of this commonwealth."

    Act 28 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  54. An act to regulate the issuing of patents for donation land.

    Act 29 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  55. An act to empower Anthony Beelen, Alexander McLaughlin, and Zachariah A. Tannehill, Executors of the last Will and Testament of William Porter, deceased, to execute a deed of conveyance, for a quarter-lot of ground in the borough of Pittsburgh to George

    Act 30 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  56. A supplement to the act entitled "An act for the relief of the poor."

    Act 31 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  57. A supplement to an act entitled "An act to provide a more effectual method of settling the public accounts of the commissioners and treasurers of the respective counties.

    Act 32 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  58. An act to incorporate the Farmers and Mechanics' Bank.

    Act 33 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  59. An act to prohibit the distilling and boiling of Turpentine and Oil, and the manufacturing of Varnish, within the city of Philadelphia and its neighbourhood.

    Act 34 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  60. An act allowing further time to the Commissioners of Luzerne county for the re-payment of certain monies due the commonwealth.

    Act 35 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  61. An act concerning libels.

    Act 36 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  62. An act to enable the Governor to Incorporate a Company for the purpose of making an artificial road from the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike Road, between the twenty-third Mile-stone and the Admiral Warren Tavern, to the point where the Reading Road

    Act 37 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  63. An act to incorporate the Marine Insurance Company of Philadelphia.

    Act 38 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  64. An act making a new arrangement of the Treasury Department, and enjoining certain duties on County Commissioners.

    Act 39 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  65. An act to authorize the guardians of the person and estate of Doctor John Houston, of the county of Lancaster, to sell and convey certain lands therein mentioned.

    Act 40 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  66. A Supplement to an Act, entitled

    Act 41 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  67. An act authorize and direct the governor to incorporate a company for erecting a permanent bridge over the river Schuylkill, opposite the Flat-rock in the county of Philadelphia.

    Act 42 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  68. An act granting an annuity to John McDowel.

    Act 43 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  69. An act to authorize the governor to appoint commissioners for the purpose of laying out a road from the Strasburgh road, near John G. Parke's house, in Chester County, by McCall's ferry, on the Susquehanna to the Maryland line, in a direction to the city

    Act 44 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  70. An act authorizing John Sharp, acting administrator of John Sutton, deceased, to make and execute certain titles to land therein mentioned.

    Act 45 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  71. An act laying a tax on Dogs in certain Counties, and for other purposes.

    Act 46 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  72. An act granting a sum of money to Catharine Shibe for services rendered by her late husband in the revolutionary war.

    Act 47 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  73. A Supplement to the 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," passed the twenty-ninth day of

    Act 48 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  74. An Act granting certain privileges to Jonathan Grout.

    Act 49 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  75. An Act authorizing a Loan of Money from the State to William McDermett.

    Act 50 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  76. An Act to incorporate the President and Directors of the Water Pipes in Aaronsburg.

    Act 51 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  77. An Act to enable the governor to incorporate a company to make an artificial road from the town of Hanover, in the county of York to the borough of Carlisle.

    Act 52 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  78. A Supplement to an Act, entitled "An Act supplementary to an act to raise by way of Lottery, a sum not exceeding eight thousand dollars, for the use and benefit of the minister, wardens and vestry of the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, in the city

    Act 53 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  79. A Supplement to the Act entitled "An Act for extending the width of Wharf-street, and regulating the wharves in the District of Southwark."

    Act 54 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  80. An Act to authorize the governor of this commonwealth to incorporate a company for the purpose of making and erecting a bridge and road over the Northeast branch of the river Susquehanna, in the county of Northumberland, from the public highway opposite

    Act 55 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  81. An Act authorizing the Governor to incorporate a company for making an artificial road from Safe Harbour at the mouth of Conestoga creek, through the village of Strasburg, to intersect either the Gap and Newport turnpike, or the Philadelphia and Lancaster

    Act 56 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  82. An Act to authorize the Governor of this commonwealth to incorporate a company for the purpose of making and erecting a bridge over the river Susquehanna in the county of Lancaster, at or near the town of Columbia.

    Act 57 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  83. An Act directing the mode of keeping in repair the long narrows road in the county of Mifflin.

    Act 58 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  84. An act to authorize the Governor to appoint commissioners for the purpose of laying out a road beginning at or near Kelso's ferry in Cumberland county, through York and Adams counties to the Maryland line, in a direction to the city of Washington.

    Act 59 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  85. An Act granting an annuity to John Boyls, a sergeant in the late Revolutionary war.

    Act 60 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  86. An Act for the better establishment and confirming the boundaries of the town and out-lots of the town of Indiana.

    Act 61 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  87. An Act granting to Samuel McNeill an annuity for life.

    Act 62 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  88. An Act abolishing the offices of receiver-general and master of the rolls, and transferring the duties therein performed to other offices, and for other purposes.

    Act 63 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  89. An Act to afford immediate relief to John Huton, a solder in the revolutionary war, and to grant him an annuity.

    Act 64 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  90. An Act Supplementary to an act, entitled "An act to regulate Arbitrations and proceedings in Courts of Justice."

    Act 65 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  91. An Act making perpetual an act entitled "An Act to regulate the payment of Costs on Indictments," and the second section of an act, entitled "An act explanatory of the act entitled "An act to regulate the payment of Costs on Indictments."

    Act 66 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  92. An Act enabling certain trustees to sell and convey the real estate of Henry Strater, a lunatic.

    Act 67 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  93. An Act concerning sentences of Foreign Prize Courts.

    Act 68 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  94. An Act to confirm the title of Samuel Work, to certain lands therein mentioned.

    Act 69 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  95. An Act for the benefit of the devisees of John Hart, deceased.

    Act 70 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  96. A Supplement to an act, entitled "An act for the relief of the heirs of Frederick Vernon, deceased."

    Act 71 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  97. An Act to empower John Knauss and John Lerch, administrators of Paul Knauss, deceased, to convey two tracts of land in the county of Northampton.

    Act 72 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  98. An Act authorizing the secretary of this commonwealth, to issue a patent to George Baker, for a lot of ground therein mentioned.

    Act 73 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  99. An Act to enable the administrators of James Carnahan, late of the county of Westmoreland, deceased, to convey a certain tract of land to the purchaser thereof.

    Act 74 of 1809 · 1809 · Original text

  100. An Act for the better employment, relief and support of the poor within the Township of Germantown, in the county of Philadelphia.

    Act 75 of 1809 · 1809 · 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.