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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. To authorize John L. Radcliff, executor of the last will and testament of Richard Dale, deceased, to sell and convey certain real estate, and for other purposes

    Act 86 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  2. To incorporate the Western Pennsylvania Hospital society, and the Pittsburg Board of Trade

    Act 87 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  3. Authorizing the Governor to incorporate a company to erect a bridge over the Monongahela river, at the borough of Birmingham, in the county of Allegheny, with power to construct a turnpike road from the south end of Denman street, in said borough, to

    Act 88 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  4. To incorporate the Harrisburg and Sunbury Railroad company

    Act 89 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  5. Authorizing the chief burgess of the borough of Sunbury to sell and convey a portion of the bank of the river opposite said borough, and relative to the boroughs of Carlisle, New Alexandria, Reading and Hollidaysburg, and for other purposes

    Act 90 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  6. Authorizing the Governor to incorporate a company to erect a bridge over the Allegheny river, at or near the borough of Franklin

    Act 91 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  7. To establish the West Branch Bank at Williamsport

    Act 92 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  8. To incorporate and establish a bank to be called the "Bank of Susquehanna county"

    Act 93 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  9. To incorporate the Pittsburg and Laughlintown Railroad Company

    Act 94 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  10. Further to incorporate the district of the Northern Liberties, in the county of Philadelphia, and for other purposes

    Act 95 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  11. For the relief of Joseph Wilt, late Brigade Inspector of Lehigh county, and for other purposes

    Act 96 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  12. For the relief of the Volunteer Troop styled "Green Cavalry," of Greene county, Pennsylvania, and for other purposes

    Act 97 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  13. Of divorce of David Ralston and Mary his wife, and others

    Act 98 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  14. For the relief of George Keller and others, soldiers and widows of soldiers of the Revolutionary and Indian wars

    Act 99 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  15. To pay certain loans of this commonwealth, and for other purposes

    Act 100 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  16. Relative to the claims of Lot Search, and Isaac and Abraham Straub, and the claim of Elisha Haines

    Act 101 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  17. To incorporate the Columbia and Maryland Line Railroad Company

    Act 102 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  18. Authorizing the Governor to incorporate the Meadville and Titusville Turnpike Road Company, and for other purposes

    Act 103 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  19. Act incorporating the Marietta, Bainbridge, Falmouth and Portsmouth Turnpike Road Company - amend - capital stock increased; intersect railroad; toll; property vested in company; extension for Sandy and Beaver canal; commissioners; route of railroad

    Act 104 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  20. For the incorporation of the "Pittsburg, Kittanning, and Warren Railroad company"

    Act 105 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  21. Appropriating the state dividends of stock hold in the Youngmanstown and Bellefonte Turnpike Road, in aid of the Lewisburg and Youngmanstown Turnpike Road, and for the preservation of the Cumberland road, and for other purposes

    Act 106 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  22. Act to authorize the printing and distribution of the Pamphlet Laws in the German language - amend - price of printing; number of copies; minutes of the council to be printed; colonial documents; original charter to be framed

    Act 107 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  23. To incorporate the Philadelphia Ice Company, and for other purposes

    Act 108 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  24. To alter the times of holding Courts in the county of Tioga, and for other purposes

    Act 109 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  25. To incorporate the Chambersburg and Gettysburg Railroad company, and for other purposes

    Act 110 of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  26. Resolutions relative to the Bridge at Duncan's Island

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  27. Resolution relative to avoiding the Inclined Plane at Columbia

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  28. Resolution relative to the purchase of the History and Biography of the Indian Tribes of North America

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  29. Resolution relative to the payment of Interest due on the first February next, on the state debt

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  30. Resolution to correct a mistake in the fourteenth section of the act entitled

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  31. Resolution relative to the La Fayette Guards and Warrington Rangers in the county of York, the Irish Greens and the Jackson Independent Blues of the city of Pittsburg, and the Light Infantry corps of the Washington

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  32. Resolution relative to the claims of David Morgan

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  33. Resolution relative to the Tariff

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  34. Resolution for the payment of certain expenses of David Scott, late president of the Board of Canal Commissioners

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  35. Resolution relative to William Ruff

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  36. Resolution for the payment of furniture purchased for the Governor's room

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  37. resolution relative to the Superintendents of Motive Power, and disbursements upon the Canal and Railways

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  38. Resolution relative to the undrawn balances in the School fund

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  39. Resolution relative to the claim of John Keene

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  40. Resolutions relative to the payment of expenses incurred in the survey of the route of a railroad to connect the Pennsylvania Canal at or near Freeport, with the Pennsylvania Canal at or near New Castle

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  41. Resolution relative to the Pottstown Grays and Dillsburg Guards

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  42. Resolution appropriating the sum of five hundred thousand dollars to the Common School fund

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  43. Resolution relative to the costs in the case of the alleged escheated estate of Daniel Keith, of Westmoreland county

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  44. Resolution relative to the claim of Etherington Appleton

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  45. Resolutions relating to the claim of Hugh Keys

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  46. Resolution to pay Engineers on the Lewisburg and Hollidaysburg Railroad

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  47. Resolution relative to removing the office of the Schuylkill Bank, at Port Carbon, to Pottsville

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  48. Resolution relative to the Bridge at Duncan's Island

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  49. Resolution relative to the payment of the money due to persons holding certificates issued by William B. Mitchell, late Superintendent on the Columbia and Philadelphia Railway

    Resolution of 1837 · 1837 · Original text

  50. Act incorporating the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad company - amend - form an union with other R.R. companies

    Act 1 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  51. Act to graduate lands on which money is due and unpaid to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - amend - act extended

    Act 2 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  52. Resolution relative to the claim of Hugh Keys - amend - intention of items of evidence

    Act 3 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  53. To provide for the repairs and the expenses of the State Canal and Railroads, and continuing the work on the Erie extension and North Branch division of the Pennsylvania canal, and for other purposes

    Act 4 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  54. For the relief of James Thomas and others, soldiers of the Revolutionary and Indian wars

    Act 5 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  55. Authorizing the laying out of water lots, and the sale of the same, in the second section of the town of Erie

    Act 6 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  56. Authorizing the Commissioners of Bedford county to borrow a sum of money, and for other purposes

    Act 7 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  57. Authorizing the sale of certain real estate of Andrew Bayard, deceased

    Act 9 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  58. To authorize the sale of certain real estate of Benjamin Johnson and Charles Augustus Kessler, deceased

    Act 10 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  59. Act authorizing the supervisors of East Huntingdon township, in Westmoreland county, to assess and collect certain taxes - amend - levy and assess a tax

    Act 11 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  60. Granting aid to the Orphan Asylum society of Pittsburg and Allegheny

    Act 12 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  61. To incorporate the President and Managers of the Doylestown and Willow Grove Turnpike Road company

    Act 13 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  62. Remunerating Lewis Williams and others, for expenses incurred in pursuing and arresting certain fugitives from justice

    Act 14 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  63. To authorize the Directors of the Poor and the House of Employment of the county of York, to sell certain real estate, and for other purposes

    Act 15 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  64. Authorizing the construction of a Canal through Windmill Island, and the improvement of the navigation of the Delaware river

    Act 16 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  65. To authorize the Governor to incorporate a company to erect a Bridge over the Lackawaxen river, at or near its mouth, in the county of Pike, and for other purposes

    Act 17 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  66. For the relief of Samuel Bittle, and others, soldiers and widows of soldiers of the Revolutionary and Indian wars

    Act 18 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  67. To authorize the Governor to incorporate a company to erect a bridge over the Conemaugh river, at or near Centreville, in the county of Indiana, and for other purposes

    Act 19 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  68. Act authorizing the Governor to incorporate the Lizard Creek, Lehigh and Loyalhanna Bridge companies, and for other purposes - amend - extending the time for commencing and completing the Susquehanna and Delaware Canal and Railroad

    Act 20 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  69. Act to incorporate the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia - amend - authorized and empowered to accept, take, receive and hold, all gifts, grants, devises and bequests of real or personal property, for diffusing knowledge

    Act 21 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  70. Acts of Assembly in relation to the survey of the townships of Penn and the unincorporated Northern Liberties, in the county of Philadelphia - amend - surveys; regulation of Hamilton street; road to be closed

    Act 22 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  71. To incorporate the Stafford Coal company

    Act 23 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  72. Making an appropriation to the Eastern Penitentiary, and for other purposes

    Act 24 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  73. To authorize the partition of the real estate whereof Anthony Taylor died seized

    Act 25 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  74. To authorize the Governor to incorporate a company to erect a Bridge over the Juniata river, at M'Veytown, Mifflin county, and for other purposes

    Act 26 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  75. To authorize the Governor to incorporate a company to erect a Bridge over the Allegheny river, at or near Sharpsburg, in Allegheny county

    Act 27 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  76. To incorporate the Trustees of the townships of Newport and Pittston, in the county of Luzerne

    Act 28 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  77. Authorizing the laying out and locating a State Road from a point at or near Mexico, in Juniata county, through Tuscarora Valley, by way of East Waterford and the Burnt Cabins, to intersect the Southern Turnpike Road, at or near Licking Creek Bridge, in

    Act 29 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  78. For the relief of George Serena and others, soldiers and widows of soldiers of the Revolutionary and Indian wars

    Act 30 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  79. For the relief of James Reed and others, soldiers and widows of soldiers of the Revolutionary and Indian wars

    Act 31 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  80. To empower the court of Common Pleas for the city and county of Philadelphia to appoint assignees or trustees in the place of the deceased assignees or trustees of John Vaughan, and for other purposes

    Act 32 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  81. To incorporate the Athens and Ithaca Railroad company, and for other purposes

    Act 33 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  82. Act authorizing the Governor to incorporate a company for erecting a bridge over the Schuylkill river at Matson's ford, in the county of Montgomery - amend - time extended; commissioners; appoint president and 2 associate judges; powers of judges and cour

    Act 34 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  83. To incorporate the Monument Cemetery of Philadelphia, and for other purposes

    Act 35 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  84. For the relief of the volunteer troop styled the Washington Cavalry, in Westmoreland county, and for other purposes

    Act 36 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  85. Act to incorporate the Sunbury and Erie, and Pittsburg and Susquehanna Railroad companies - amend - time of election changed; commissioners to open books; extend road

    Act 37 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  86. For the relief of Andrew Keen and others, soldiers and widows of soldiers of the Revolutionary and Indian wars

    Act 38 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  87. To authorize the Willardsburg and Jersey Shore Railroad company to construct a Railroad to Warren, and for other purposes

    Act 39 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  88. To authorize the wardens of the Reformed church called Paradise church, in Paradise township, York county, to sell and convey certain real estate, and for other purposes

    Act 40 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  89. Act extending the time for closing the concerns of the Bank of Washington - amend - time for sale of additional bank stock extended

    Act 41 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  90. To authorize Bernard Connelly, junior, to survey and lay out the town of Smythfield, or Somerfield, in Somerset county, and for other purposes

    Act 42 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  91. Act authorizing the Governor to incorporate the Muncy Canal company - amend - duty of auditor general; appropriation

    Act 43 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  92. Authorizing the Governor to incorporate the Franklin and Emlenton Turnpike Road company, and for other purposes

    Act 44 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  93. Authorizing the Canal Commissioners to settle and adjust the claim of Arts and Dobbins, and for other purposes

    Act 45 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  94. Authorizing the Governor to incorporate the Mahoning, Kittanning and Freeport Turnpike Road Company, and for other purposes

    Act 46 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  95. To promote the culture of Silk

    Act 47 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  96. Authorizing the Governor to incorporate a company to make a Turnpike road, from Uniontown, in the county of Fayette, to the Virginia State line, and for other purposes

    Act 48 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  97. Granting aid to the Pittsburg Hospital for the destitute sick and insane of Western Pennsylvania, and to incorporate the Orphans' Asylum of Lancaster, and to provide for the education of the Deaf and Dumb in this commonwealth

    Act 49 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  98. For the incorporation of several Bridge companies, and for other purposes

    Act 50 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  99. Making appropriation to rebuild the Valley Creek Bridge

    Act 51 of 1838 · 1838 · Original text

  100. Relating to certain Election Districts, in the counties of Westmoreland, Delaware and Jefferson

    Act 52 of 1838 · 1838 · 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.