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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

1,683 laws of the 1820s

Constitution of 1790

  1. An act to authorise the committee of the estate of Charles Willing Hare to sell and convey real estate

    Act 146 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  2. An act to authorise the trustees of a public school in Douglass township, Berks county, to sell certain real estate

    Act 147 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  3. An act for relief of Patrick Dickson and James Ryley, soldiers of the revolution

    Act 148 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  4. An act to incorporate the Union Academy at Doylestown

    Act 149 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  5. An act to incorporate the towns of Jefferson and Hamilton, in Greene county, into a borough

    Act 150 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  6. An act to enable the governor to incorporate a company for making an artificial road from the borough of Mercer, in the county of Mercer, to the line of the state of Ohio, in a direction to the centre of Vernon, in the county of Trumbull, in the state of

    Act 151 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  7. An act appropriating a sum of money for the erection of a bridge over the river Schuylkill, near Hamburg, in the county of Berks

    Act 152 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  8. An act to change the style of the charter of the German congregation of Zelienople and Harmony, in Butler county

    Act 153 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  9. An act to incorporate the Female Hospitable Society

    Act 154 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  10. An act incorporating the Lancaster county academy

    Act 155 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  11. An act authorising the executors of Peter Blecker, deceased, to sell and convey certain real estate

    Act 156 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  12. An act to aid in improving and repairing the state road between the Allegheny bridge and Beaver bridge

    Act 157 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  13. An act incorporating the Trindle-spring German Reformed Calvinist and German Lutheran congregation of Cumberland county

    Act 158 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  14. An act for the relief of Andrew Long, a soldier of the revolution

    Act 159 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  15. An act changing the name of John Stephens Smith to Kenderton Smith

    Act 160 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  16. A supplement to "An act to provide for the education of children at the public expense, within the city and county of Philadelphia - amend - directors for the third section of the first school district are constituted directors for the ninth section

    Act 161 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  17. An act to incorporate the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal Company

    Act 162 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  18. An act to repeal in part "An act for the relief of sundry supervisors therein mentioned" - repeal

    Act 163 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  19. A further supplement to "An act for the regulation of the militia of this commonwealth" - amend - additional equipment; trainings; distribution of rifles to volunteer corps; visits by adjutant general; repairs made to arsenals

    Act 164 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  20. An act for the relief of Nathaniel Patterson, inspector of the first brigade, fifteenth division, Pennsylvania militia, and for the relief of Nathaniel W Sample, junior, inspector of the second brigade, fourth division, Pennsylvania militia

    Act 165 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  21. An act to improve the Norwegian creek in Schuylkill county

    Act 166 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  22. An act to enable the commissioners of the county of Philadelphia, to convey certain real estate

    Act 167 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  23. An act to authorise the establishment of a Branch Bank in the town of Pottsville, in Schuylkill county

    Act 168 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  24. An act to enable John Saeger, administrator, de bonis non, etc. of Peter Miller, deceased, to make title to certain real estate

    Act 169 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  25. A supplement to "An act to alter an act for erecting the town of Carlisle, in the county of Cumberland, into a borough" - amend - public highways; assessment of taxes

    Act 170 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  26. An act authorising the re-viewing and laying out certain state roads, and for other purposes

    Act 171 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  27. An act to enable the Governor to incorporate a company for making an artificial road from the borough of Mercer, in the county of Mercer, through Greenville, to the line of the state of Ohio, at William Mossman's, in a direction to the town of Kinsman, in

    Act 172 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  28. An act authorising the governor to incorporate the Shamokin canal company

    Act 173 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  29. A further supplement to "An act to appoint a board of canal commissioners" - amend - commissioners to be appointed annually; compensation regulated; superintendents may be employed; additional reports; duty of acting commissioners

    Act 174 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  30. A supplement to "An act to provide for the erection of a Poor House for the better relief and employment of the Poor in the townships of Oxford and Lower Dublin, in the county of Philadelphia, and relating to the poor of the borough of Erie and certain to

    Act 175 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  31. A supplement to "An act for the relief of the poor" - amend - overseers of the poor authorised to make an assessment on all real and personal estates

    Act 176 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  32. An act making appropriations to defray certain expenses of Government

    Act 177 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  33. An act vesting in Rachel Vanfossen, the illegitimate child of Mary Ogle, deceased, the estate of said deceased

    Act 178 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  34. An act for the relief of William Streper, a soldier of the revolution

    Act 179 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  35. An act for the relief of John Barlet, a soldier of the revolution

    Act 180 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  36. A supplement to "An act authorising the governor to incorporate the Lackawanna and Susquehanna rail road company" - amend - extend rail road; subscriptions may be increased

    Act 181 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  37. An act concerning writs of scire facias

    Act 182 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  38. An act for the relief of William Blair and William Leckey, administrators of James Arthurs, deceased, and the sureties of Samuel Mann, late collector of taxes in the city of Pittsburg

    Act 183 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  39. A supplement to "An act securing to mechanics' and others, payment for their labor and materials in erecting any house or other building within the city and county of Philadelphia" - amend - extended to Union county; relative to the erection of fish dams

    Act 184 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  40. A further supplement to "An act to incorporate a company for making a turnpike road from Butler to the Allegheny river, opposite Kittanning" - amend - powers of governor to create a body politic and corporate

    Act 185 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  41. An act authorising the governor to incorporate the Allegheny and Conewango canal company

    Act 186 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  42. An act vesting certain powers in the administrators of the estate of James Elliott, deceased

    Act 187 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  43. An act concerning the backing or endorsing warrants by justices of the peace

    Act 188 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  44. An act relative to the improvement of the Susquehanna river

    Act 189 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  45. A supplement to "An act to erect the town of Indiana, in the county of Indiana, into a borough" - amend - limits of borough extended; elect 2 overseers of the poor; probate of the plan of the town of Armagh to be recorded

    Act 190 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  46. A supplement to "An act to alter and amend the Fee Bill" - repeal - as they affect the aldermen and justices of the peace and constables of the city and county of Philadelphia

    Act 191 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  47. An act relative to the distribution of money arising from sheriffs and coroners sales; and relative to the duties of the auditor general and county commissioners

    Act 192 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  48. An act granting compensation for donation land, to sundry soldiers and heirs of soldiers of the revolutionary war

    Act 193 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  49. An act regulating Election Districts, and for other purposes

    Act 194 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  50. An act relating to escheated estates

    Act 195 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  51. An act to prevent certain abuses of the laws relative to fugitives from labour

    Act 196 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  52. An act to authorise the governor to incorporate a company to erect a bridge over the North East Branch of the Susquehanna river, at or near the village of Athens, in the county of Bradford

    Act 197 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  53. An act incorporating the Theological Seminary of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States, and for other purposes

    Act 198 of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  54. Resolutions

    Resolution of 1827 · 1827 · Original text

  55. An act authorising the court of common pleas, of Philadelphia county, to direct the acknowledgment of a certain deed

    Act 1 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  56. A further supplement to "An act authorising the governor to incorporate the Conestogo Navigation Company - amend - borrow money

    Act 2 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  57. An act incorporating the Pittsburg Gas Light and Coke Company

    Act 3 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  58. An act for the relief of Elizabeth Barnard, widow of a revolutionary soldier

    Act 5 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  59. An act for the relief of Nicholas Swoyer, a soldier, and Christiana House, the widow of a soldier of the revolution

    Act 6 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  60. An act to vest in Mary Lubold, the rights of this commonwealth to the real and personal estate of her illegitimate son, Jonas Richards, late of the township of Douglass, in the county of Berks

    Act 7 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  61. An act authorising the laying out a state road from the Washington and Pittsburgh turnpike road, to the Virginia state line in a direction to Wheeling

    Act 8 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  62. An act authorising the President Judge of the fourth judicial district to try certain causes in Bedford county

    Act 9 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  63. An act to repeal "An act to incorporate the borough of Selinsgrove, in Union county, and the town of Berlin, in the county of Somerset - repeal - as relates to the borough of Selinsgrove

    Act 10 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  64. An act for the relief of Robert Glendenning

    Act 11 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  65. An act to authorise the Governor to incorporate the president, managers, and company of the Lackawaxen turnpike road

    Act 12 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  66. An act to incorporate the Methodist congregation in the borough of Columbia, in the county of Lancaster

    Act 13 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  67. An act granting all the right, title and interest of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the estate of John Johnson, deceased, and also in the estate of Charles Johnson, deceased, to Samuel Johnson, the natural brother of said John Johnson and Charles Joh

    Act 14 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  68. An act to incorporate the Bethany Water Company

    Act 15 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  69. An act incorporating the Presbyterian congregation of the borough of Columbia, in the county of Lancaster

    Act 16 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  70. An act appointing a trustee to the estate late of Abel James, deceased

    Act 17 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  71. An act for the relief of Thomas Elton and Benjamin Hunter, soldiers of the revolutionary war

    Act 18 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  72. An act to legitimate Maria Eve Snyder, daughter of Daniel Udree

    Act 19 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  73. An act for the preservation of the records in the office of the deputy surveyor, in the county of Westmoreland

    Act 20 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  74. An act incorporating the Theological Seminary of the Associate Reformed Synod of the West

    Act 21 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  75. A supplement to "An act authorising the governor to incorporate a company to build a bridge over the river Lehigh, at or near Seigfried's Ferry, in the county of Northampton - amend - mortgage property and borrow money

    Act 22 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  76. An act authorising the committee of Michael Hanchman, a lunatic, to sell and convey a part or parts of the real estate of the said lunatic

    Act 23 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  77. An act to view and lay out a state road from the farm of Zepheniah Beall, in Washington county, to Little Whiteley creek, in Greene county

    Act 24 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  78. An act granting a sum of money to aid in the erection of a bridge over Dunlap's creek, where the state road leading from the White Horse, on the Allegheny mountain, towards the flats of Grave creek, crosses the same, at Merrettstown, in Fayette county - e

    Act 25 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  79. An act to authorise the Secretary of the Land Office to exemplify certain deeds

    Act 26 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  80. An act for the relief of Irwin Elliot, of Fairfield township, Westmoreland county

    Act 27 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  81. An act authorising the laying out of a state road from the borough of Greensburg, in Westmoreland county, to the Allegheny river, opposite the town of Freeport, in Armstrong county

    Act 28 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  82. An act granting a gratuity to Richard Nagle, a revolutionary soldier

    Act 29 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  83. An act granting a sum of money to open and make a state road from David Hunter's mill, in the county of Bedford, to intersect the Waynesburg, Green Castle and Mercersburg turnpike road, on the North Mountain, at or near Samuel Tom's, in the county of Fran

    Act 30 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  84. A supplement to "An act authorising the governor to incorporate the Milesburg and Smethsport turnpike road company - amend - subscribe to stock

    Act 31 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  85. An act to repeal in part "An act regulating election districts, and for other purposes - repeal

    Act 32 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  86. A supplement to "An act to enable David Mahon, John Simpson, and others, to restore a stream of water in the neighborhood of Shippensburg, in the county of Cumberland, to its ancient course, and for other purposes therein mentioned - amend - new commissio

    Act 33 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  87. An act to incorporate the Bank of Penn township, in the county of Philadelphia

    Act 34 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  88. An act to incorporate the town of Mount Pleasant, in the county of Westmoreland, into a borough

    Act 35 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  89. A further supplement to "An act to incorporate the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society - amend - relating to deposits

    Act 36 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  90. A further supplement to An act to incorporate the borough of Gettysburg, in the county of Adams - amend - authority to assess taxes to open and repair streets, roads and alleys

    Act 37 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  91. A further supplement to An act to incorporate the trustees of the Newtown Common, in the county of Bucks - amend - boundaries; committee to be elected; duty and appointment of treasurer; trustees to settle their accounts; duty and powers of court

    Act 38 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  92. An act for the relief of Samuel Lockhart and John Light, soldiers of the revolutionary war

    Act 39 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  93. An act to extend the privileges of the Philadelphia Dispensary

    Act 40 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  94. An act to enable the Governor to incorporate a company for making an artificial road from the city of Pittsburg to a point at or near the house of William Farrow, in the county of Allegheny

    Act 41 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  95. An act for the relief of John Martin, late supervisor of Mifflin township, in the county of Lycoming

    Act 42 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  96. An act to improve the state road from Franklin to Butler

    Act 43 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  97. An act to incorporate the Miners Bank of Pottsville, in Schuylkill county

    Act 44 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  98. An act authorising the governor to incorporate the Mill Creek and Mine Hill Navigation and Rail Road Company

    Act 45 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  99. A supplement to An act authorising the Governor to incorporate the Tioga Navigation Company - amend - authorised to make a rail way in lieu of a canal; may connect rail roads; officers to be residents of this state

    Act 46 of 1828 · 1828 · Original text

  100. A supplement to An act to incorporate the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal Company - amend - corporation enlarged

    Act 47 of 1828 · 1828 · 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.