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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

2,121 laws of the 1830s

Constitution of 1790

  1. Extending the Mechanics' Lien law to the counties of Warren and Juniata, and for other purposes

    Act 116 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  2. Altering the time of holding the annual elections by the stockholders of the Belmont and Easton turnpike road company; the Honesdale and Clarkesville turnpike road company; and the Coshecton and Great Bend turnpike road company

    Act 117 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  3. Granting compensation to George Tripner for a tract of donation land

    Act 118 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  4. Authorizing the laying out of a State road from Henry Pearson's mill, in Mercer county, to the Newcastle and Zelienople road, in Beaver county

    Act 119 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  5. To authorize the opening of an alley in the city of Pittsburg from St. Clair street to Irwin street

    Act 120 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  6. Granting to Julius Toser and others, corporate powers to enable them to build a bridge over the Chemung river, in Athens township, Bradford county

    Act 121 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  7. To erect Adams and York counties into a separate judicial district, to be called the nineteenth district, and for other purposes

    Act 122 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  8. Act to incorporate sundry boroughs, and for other purposes - amend - election of borough officers

    Act 123 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  9. Act authorizing the Governor to incorporate the Mill Creek and Mine Hill Navigation and Rail-road company - amend - construct additional railroad; increase toll

    Act 124 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  10. Several acts relative to partitions - amend - writs to be sued; execution of writ; costs

    Act 125 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  11. Providing for the further improvement of the State by rail-roads and canals

    Act 126 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  12. To open the streets, roads, lanes and alleys in a certain portion of the township of Moyamensing and for fixing the lines and descents of the water courses of all the streets, roads, lanes and alleys in said township, and for other purposes

    Act 127 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  13. To incorporate the Doylestown Insurance company of Bucks county

    Act 128 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  14. Declaring the Wapaseening creek, in the county of Bradford, a public highway, from the New York state line up to Joseph Elbree's mill, and for other purposes

    Act 129 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  15. To extend the laws relating to mechanics' liens to the counties of Washington, Huntingdon, Mercer, Beaver and Allegheny

    Act 130 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  16. To re-charter the Harrisburg Bank

    Act 131 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  17. For the establishment of Laurel Hill College, in Penn township, county of Philadelphia

    Act 132 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  18. To authorize Joseph Engle and Archibald T. Dick to sell and convey certain real estate held by them in trust

    Act 133 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  19. Act to authorize the trustees of Athens township, in Bradford county, to convey certain lands - amend - fill vacancies; election and duties of trustees; power to sell; appropriation to support schools

    Act 134 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  20. Act to incorporate the Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Bank of the Northern Liberties, in the county of Philadelphia - amend - location of bank

    Act 135 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  21. Incorporating the Lancaster Savings Institution

    Act 136 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  22. To incorporate the Middletown School Association, in the county of Bucks

    Act 137 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  23. Making an appropriation to the Eastern and Western Penitentiaries

    Act 138 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  24. Act to incorporate the Pennsylvania Coke and Iron company - amend - time extended

    Act 139 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  25. Act to provide for the erection of a new prison and a debtors' apartment within the city and county of Philadelphia, and for the sale of the county prison in Walnut street in said city - amend - duties of inspectors, keepers, superintendents, and physicia

    Act 140 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  26. Act to incorporate the township of Moyamensing, in Philadelphia county - amend - commissioners authorized to put out to trade poor children; like powers with justices of the peace; borrow money; build market houses; construct culverts; lay conduit pipes

    Act 141 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  27. To authorize the sale and conveyance of certain real estate, and for other purposes

    Act 142 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  28. To incorporate the Farmers and Drovers' Bank of Waynesburg

    Act 143 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  29. To incorporate the Bank of Lewistown

    Act 144 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  30. Act relative to the organization of the Courts of Justice - amend - not be construed to extend to such person at time of the passage of act held the office of alderman or notary public

    Act 145 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  31. Act authorizing the Governor to incorporate the Tioga Navigation Company - amend -rate of interest; statements made to the legislature; Governor to draw his warrant for the deficiency

    Act 146 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  32. Act authorizing the Governor to incorporate a company to make an artificial road, commencing where the Schuylkill canal road intersects the Ridge turnpike road, near Robinson's mill, thence along the bed of said road to the Flat Rock bridge - amend - time

    Act 147 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  33. To incorporate the trustees of the Abbeville Institute, near Lancaster, and for other purposes

    Act 148 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  34. Authorizing the clerk of the Orphan's Court of the county of Northampton, to supply the records of said court, and for other purposes

    Act 149 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  35. Relative to the laying out certain State roads, and for other purposes

    Act 150 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  36. To provide for calling a Convention with limited powers

    Act 151 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  37. To incorporate the Hanover Saving Fund Society

    Act 152 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  38. Act to incorporate the trustees of the township and borough of Wilkesbarre, the trustees of the township of Plymouth, and the trustees of the township of Hanover, in the county of Luzerne - amend - provisions extended; construct steam boats; township of A

    Act 153 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  39. Act relating to Orphans' Courts - amend - auditors appointed; powers of orphans court; register courts

    Act 154 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  40. Authorizing the Commissioners of the Internal Improvement fund to apply certain moneys to the payment of interest

    Act 155 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  41. To incorporate the Berks County Savings Institution

    Act 156 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  42. To incorporate the Philadelphia Fire and Inland Navigation Insurance company

    Act 157 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  43. Authorizing the connexion of the Danville and Pottsville Rail-road with the Susquehanna river at Sunbury, and for other purposes

    Act 158 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  44. Authorizing a temporary loan for the use of the Commonwealth

    Act 159 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  45. Relative to Lafayette College, and to public education in the city of Lancaster

    Act 160 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  46. Relating to the courts of Armstrong county, and to authorize the courts of Quarter Sessions of Washington and Allegheny counties to name and to change the names of townships

    Act 161 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  47. Act to incorporate the city of Pittsburg, and for other purposes - amend - councils may confer power upon mayor and alderman; exemption and assessment of toll; court of quarter sessions; act extended 1 yr.; Pittsburg and Coal Hill turnpike co. authorized

    Act 162 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  48. Authorizing the Governor to incorporate the president, managers and company of the Lewisburg and Jersey Shore turnpike road and bridge company, and to incorporate the West Chester and Port Deposit rail-road company

    Act 163 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  49. To authorize the Governor to incorporate the Susquehanna Canal Company

    Act 164 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  50. To incorporate the Spring Garden Fire Insurance company of the county of Philadelphia

    Act 165 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  51. To authorize the Governor to incorporate the Norristown and Valley Rail-road company, and for other purposes

    Act 166 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  52. For the relief of Robert Dunn

    Act 167 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  53. To authorize William Webb, guardian of the minor children of William R. Walker, deceased, and Catherine Walker, to sell and convey certain real estate

    Act 168 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  54. Supplement to the act to incorporate the Beaver Meadow Rail Road and Coal Company - amend - location to construct rail road

    Act 170 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  55. To incorporate an American Porcelain company

    Act 171 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  56. Authorizing the laying out of State road from Shippenville, in Venango county, to Ridgeway, in Jefferson county

    Act 172 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  57. Act to incorporate the Norristown, Berks and Lehigh rail-road company, and to extend the time of taking subscriptions of stock to the Brown's mills, Sankey's Gap and Alexandria turnpike road company, and for other purposes - amend - time extended; additio

    Act 173 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  58. Establishing and altering certain election districts, and for other purposes

    Act 174 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  59. To incorporate the Yardleyville Delaware bridge company

    Act 175 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  60. Act to establish a General System of Education by common schools - amend - tax levied; votes in the negative; persons entitle to vote; office of inspector abolished; circular letters

    Act 176 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  61. To incorporate the Methodist Episcopal church at Tunkhannock, in the county of Luzerne, and for other purposes

    Act 177 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  62. To alter the location of part of Washington street, in the township of Moyamensing, and a supplement to the act entitled An act to incorporate the borough of Bethany, in the county of Wayne, and a supplement to the act entitled An act to incorporate the b

    Act 178 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  63. Vesting the right of this Commonwealth to the escheated estate of John Mader Wiggins, deceased, an illegitimate son of John Wiggins, deceased, in William Henderson and others

    Act 179 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  64. For the relief of sundry soldiers and widows of soldiers of the revolutionary war

    Act 180 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  65. To alter the time of holding the courts in Mercer, Jefferson, Warren, McKean and Potter counties

    Act 181 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  66. To vest in Joseph Whitacre and Benjamin Jones, trustees of Rachel and Leah Ann, illegitimate children of Daniel Norwood, deceased, and Hannah Norwood, certain real estate, and to authorize the sale of the same

    Act 182 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  67. Act authorizing the Governor to incorporate the Strasburg rail-road, the Williamsport and Elmira rail-road, the Marietta and Columbia rail-road, the Portsmouth and Lancaster rail-road, and incorporating a company to make the Oxford rail-road, and relative

    Act 183 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  68. Relating to Inspections

    Act 184 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  69. To amend an act entitled An act to incorporate the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal company

    Act 185 of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  70. Resolution relative to the election of United States Senator

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  71. Reslution relative to the Meadville Arsenal

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  72. Resolution relative to the books in the Recorder's office of Bradford county

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  73. Resolution relative to the public lands granted to Erie county

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  74. Resolution relative to the claim of James and Ethrington Appleton

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  75. Resolution relative to George W. Henry, a contractor on the Pennsylvania rail-road

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  76. Resolution for the relief of Rankin and Armstrong, and John and Robert Knox, contractors on the Lycoming line, Pennsylvania canal

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  77. Resolution relative to the claim of James Mackey

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  78. Resolution relative to the pension of Isaac Vanhook

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  79. Resolution relative to the distribution of the Pamphlet Laws

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  80. Resolution to authorize the Canal Commissioners to enquire into the claims for damages of Jane Reese and others

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  81. Resolution for the relief of Samuel Boon, Joshua Hause and James McClure

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  82. Resolution for the relief of George Weiser

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  83. Resolution relating to the Chesapeake and Delaware canal

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  84. Resolution relative to procuring a standard of Weights and Measures

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  85. Resolution relative to the removing of sand and gravel from the public ground, and to lay out a street from the capitol to the canal

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  86. Resolution to provide for the payment of certain costs on suits brought by the Commonwealth, and relative to the calculation of interest in the case of the Commonwealth versus Henry Baldwin

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  87. Resolution relative to the claim of Benjamin Bear and others

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  88. Resolution relative to the Franklin bridge

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  89. Resolution relative to the Gettysburg and Hagerstown turnpike road

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  90. Resolution relative to the commission of the Treasurer of Philadelphia county, arising from the collateral inheritance tax on the Girard estate

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  91. Resolution relative to the claim of John Kean and Hugh Curren

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  92. Resolution explanatory of the act passed April 13, 1835

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  93. Resolution relative to the claim of Jane Parsons, widow and administratrix of William Parsons, deceased, late contractor on the Juniata division, Pennsylvania canal, section number forty-four

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  94. Resolution to authorize the Governor to bring suit in the matter of a loan authorized by the act of April 16, 1833

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  95. Resolution relative to the peninsula at Presque Isle, on Lake Erie

    Resolution of 1835 · 1835 · Original text

  96. To incorporate the Reading and Brandywine rail road company

    Act 2 of 1836 · 1836 · Original text

  97. For the relief of Adam Mengel, and Jacob Wertman and John Adam Gentsel, revolutionary soldiers

    Act 3 of 1836 · 1836 · Original text

  98. For the relief of sundry soldiers and widows of soldiers of the revolutionary war

    Act 4 of 1836 · 1836 · Original text

  99. Act for the relief of sundry soldiers and widows of soldiers of the revolutionary war - amend - gratuity and annuity to Barbara Keigley

    Act 5 of 1836 · 1836 · Original text

  100. To authorize the trustees for the members composing the first New Jerusalem Church in the city of Philadelphia, to sell and convey real estate

    Act 6 of 1836 · 1836 · 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.