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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. Act to amend and consolidate with its supplements the act for the recovery of debts and demands, not exceeding one hundred dollars, before a justice of the peace, and for the election of constables, and for other purposes - amend - recovery of penalty for

    Act Act 0209 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  2. Authorizing the Governor to incorporate the Rock Cabin and Tangascootack rail-road company, in Centre county

    Act Act 0210 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  3. Authorising the sale of certain real estate, belonging to the heirs of Christian Geese, deceased

    Act Act 0211 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  4. Act for the relief of the creditors of the Harrisburg, Carlisle and Chambersburg turnpike road - amend - court of common pleas of Cumberland to direct distribution of monies

    Act Act 0212 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  5. Authorizing the trustees of certain churches, therein named, to sell and convey certain real estate

    Act Act 0213 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  6. Act authorising the sale and conveyance of certain real estate - amend - estate of John Pott, senior

    Act Act 0214 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  7. Authorising the election of additional constables in the township of Norwegian, in the county of Schuylkill, and in the township of Columbia, in the county of Bradford

    Act Act 0214 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  8. To annul the marriage contract between John Boner and Margaret his wife

    Act Act 0216 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  9. Regulating the boroughs of Petersburg, in Huntingdon county; Erie, in Erie county; Honesdale, in Wayne county; Frankford, in Philadelphia county, Stoystown, in Somerset county; and the Northern Liberties of Pittsburg

    Act Act 0217 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  10. For the relief of Francis Ross

    Act Act 0218 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  11. Act to erect the town of Alexandria, in the county of Huntingdon into a borough, and to increase the boundaries of the borough of Milton, and for other purposes - amend - borough boundaries extended; powers of borough officers; high constable; rights of c

    Act Act 0219 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  12. Act regulating the roads and highways, in the counties of Crawford, Venango and Warren

    Act Act 0220 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  13. Act to amend and consolidate the several acts relating to the settlement of the public accounts, and the payment of the public monies, and for other purposes - amend - close of financial year for accountant officers; commissioners of the internal improvem

    Act Act 0221 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  14. Act incorporating the town of Lewisburg, in Union county, into a borough - amend - tax on dogs

    Act Act 0222 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  15. Act to incorporate the Erie and Chatauque Steam Boat company, of Erie - amend - eligibility of officers

    Act Act 0223 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  16. Act authorising the Secretary of the Land Office to issue patents to certain actual settlers, residing north and west of the rivers Ohio and Allegheny and Conewango creek - amend - error corrected

    Act Act 0224 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  17. Regulating election districts

    Act Act 0225 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  18. Concerning the destruction, by fire, of any arms or military stores, the property of this commonwealth

    Act Act 0226 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  19. Concerning the action of account render

    Act Act 0227 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  20. To authorise the commissioners of Jefferson county to alter a certain part of the Susquehanna and Waterford turnpike road

    Act Act 0228 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  21. Act to incorporate the Beaver Meadow Rail-road and Coal Company - amend - extend rail-road; increase of capital; union of corporate powers forbidden

    Act Act 0229 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  22. Act to authorise the Governor to incorporate the president, managers and company of the Philadelphia and Great Bend turnpike road - amend - number of managers; toll on logs of timber

    Act Act 0230 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  23. Act laying a tax on dogs in certain counties, and for other purposes, and the supplements thereto - amend - tax on dogs in Chester county; may be lawfully killed

    Act Act 0230 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  24. Act to enable the owners and possessors of Schuylkill Point meadow land, in the county of Philadelphia, to keep the banks, dams, sluices and flood-gates in repair, and to raise a fund to defray the expenses thereof - amend - time for election; rates of to

    Act Act 0232 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  25. Concerning the South East and South West corners of Water and Walnut Streets, in the city of Philadelphia

    Act Act 0233 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  26. Act for the relief of James Duffy, a contractor for making the Hanover and Carlisle turnpike road - amend - powers and duties of treasurer

    Act Act 0234 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  27. Act to authorise the officers of the Land Office to accept returns of surveys, and direct patents to issue, where an excess of more than ten percent is returned - repeal - sections 1 and 3

    Act Act 0235 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  28. Declaring a certain part of the West Branch of the river Susquehanna, a public highway

    Act act 0016 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  29. More effectually to prevent and punish extortion, and for other purposes

    Act act 0113 of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  30. Resolution relative to a Canal and Lock communication between the Pennsylvania Canal and the Juniata river, opposite the mouth of Tuscarora creek

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  31. Resolution relative to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  32. Resolution relative to the Lancaster Phalanx

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  33. Resolution relative to the out-let lock at Easton

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  34. Resolution relative to the Union

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  35. Resolution relative to damage done to roads and highways, by the construction of the Pennsylvania canal and feeders or rail-roads

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  36. Resolution relative to the protection and repair of the capitol and public offices, and improvement of the adjoining public ground

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  37. Resolution relative to the revenue laws

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  38. Resolution relative to dams in the Susquehanna river

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  39. Resolution relative to the Shamokin dam

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  40. Resolution relative to the compensation of the commissioners appointed to revise the civil code

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  41. Resolution authorising the Auditor General to settle the accounts of the superintendent of the French Creek feeder, for locating that part of the Pennsylvania canal which lies between Conneaut lake and the basin at

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  42. Resolution authorising the purchase of certain books, for the use of the Board of Property

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  43. Resolution relative to furnishing the Library rooms of the commonwealth

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  44. Resolution relative to the Librarian

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  45. Resolution relative to Peter Lawyer, a soldier of the revolutionary war

    Resolution of 1831 · 1831 · Original text

  46. Authorizing compensation to Frederick Reidenower for damages done by a certain state road

    Act 1 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  47. To incorporate the town of Landisburg, in the county of Perry, into a borough, and to appoint trustees for the public school house therein

    Act 2 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  48. To authorise Minerva Rossiter to confirm a certain contract

    Act 3 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  49. For the relief of Mary Welsh, the widow of a revolutionary soldier

    Act 4 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  50. For the relief of Mary Smith, widow of John Smith, late paymaster of the eighty-eighth regiment, Pennsylvania militia

    Act 5 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  51. To authorise the opening of Exchange alley in the city of Pittsburg, on certain conditions

    Act 6 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  52. Act concerning strays - amend - extended to Schuylkill county

    Act 7 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  53. Appointing trustees for the Providence preparative meeting, of the society of Friends

    Act 8 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  54. Authorising the inhabitants of Lower Saucon township, in the county of Northampton, to elect four supervisors of the roads

    Act 9 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  55. For the relief of Catharine Currey, the widow of a revolutionary soldier

    Act 10 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  56. Act reviving an act incorporating the borough of Waynesburg, and changing the name thereof to Waynesboro - amend - provision for non-election of officers

    Act 11 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  57. Act to authorise the Governor to incorporate a company for opening a lock navigation on Neshamony creek, in Bucks county, from the tide way to Bridgetown, on said creek - amend - vacancies filled in board of commissioners

    Act 12 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  58. For erecting Christ Church and Saint Peter's Church, in the City of Philadelphia into separate corporations

    Act 13 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  59. Relating to the minister, trustees, elders and deacons, of the German Reformed congregation in the city of Philadelphia "in the province of Pennsylvania"

    Act 14 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  60. To open and improve part of a state road from Samuel Hill's, in Greene county, Pennsylvania, to Middlebourne, Virginia

    Act 15 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  61. Act erecting the towns of Allegheny, Birmingham, Franklin and Northumberland, into boroughs, and to give effect to the act incorporating the borough of Elizabethtown, in the county of Lancaster - amend - borough of Franklin erected into a separate

    Act 16 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  62. Authorising the laying out of streets and roads in the township of Passyunk, in the county of Philadelphia

    Act 17 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  63. Authorising the commissioners of Berks county to build a toll bridge over the river Schuylkill, at Medler's ford, where the road crosses the said stream, leading from Bern to Reading

    Act 18 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  64. For the relief of Magdalena Horn and Nancy Clark, widows of revolutionary soldiers

    Act 19 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  65. Act for laying out certain state roads in Schuylkill Northampton, Butler, Luzerne, Lycoming, Chester and Bucks counties, and for other purposes - amend - provisions for state road extended

    Act 20 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  66. Authorizing the Commissioners of the Internal Improvement Fund to apply certain monies to the payment of interest

    Act 21 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  67. Directing the time of closing the reports and accounts of the Canal Commissioners, and the reports of the Commissioners of the Internal Improvement fund

    Act 22 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  68. Relative to the Belmount and Easton turnpike road

    Act 23 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  69. To change the names of Philip William Burgholthous, Anthony Daniel Burgholthous and Barnard Henry Burgholthous of the county of York

    Act 24 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  70. For the relief of Mary Campbell, the widow of a revolutionary soldier

    Act 25 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  71. Vacating and laying aside "Blackberry alley," in the city of Philadelphia

    Act 26 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  72. Authorizing the burgesses and assistant burgesses of the borough of Frankford in the county of Philadelphia to appoint a corder of wood

    Act 27 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  73. Authorising the Commissioners of Berks county to build a Toll Bridge over the river Schuylkill at Poplar Neck

    Act 28 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  74. To extend the time for completing the Washington and Pittsburg turnpike road, and to legalize the appointment of treasurer by the board of managers

    Act 29 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  75. For the relief of Dieter Snyder and John Moser soldiers of the revolutionary war

    Act 30 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  76. For the relief of Agnes Vaughn, the widow of a soldier of the revolutionary war

    Act 31 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  77. Act granting authority to purchase real estate with certain moneys of Samuel Dickson McCloy, a minor, and authorising the guardian of John Evans, a minor, to purchase certain real estate - amend - change of guardians

    Act 32 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  78. Authorising the Governor to incorporate the Williamsburg, Martinsburg and Bedford turnpike road company

    Act 33 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  79. Establishing the boundary line between Venango and Jefferson counties

    Act 34 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  80. Relative to the election of Auditors in the borough of Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny

    Act 35 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  81. Authorising the erection of a bridge over Raccoon creek, on or near the dividing line of the counties of Washington and Beaver

    Act 36 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  82. For the relief of George Drehs, a soldier of the revolutionary war

    Act 37 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  83. Act to protect the property of the Mayor, Aldermen and citizens of Philadelphia, at Fair Mount, and to preserve the purity of the Schuylkill water - amend - penalty on nuisances; length of possession not to bar removal

    Act 38 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  84. Act for the relief and employment of the poor of the city of Philadelphia, the district of Southwark, and the townships of the Northern Liberties and Penn - amend - borrow money; payment of interest on loans; interest of current year; power of guardians

    Act 39 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  85. To provide for the inspection of Tobacco for the port of Philadelphia

    Act 40 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  86. Authorizing the executors of James Guthrie, deceased, to sell and convey certain real estate

    Act 41 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  87. To authorize the judges of the court of Common Pleas of Centre county to receive proof of the purchase and payment of the purchase money of a certain tract or lot of land in Lamar township, in said county, by a certain David Watson

    Act 42 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  88. For the relief of Andrew Shuster, a soldier of the revolutionary war

    Act 43 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  89. To legitimate John Milton Rutherford and William Rutherford, sons of John Rutherford, in the county of Dauphin

    Act 44 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  90. To confer on Jane Chamberlain the rights, privileges and benefits of a child born in lawful wedlock

    Act 45 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  91. Act to empower the board of health to purchase and hold certain real estate, and for other purposes - amend - authorized to purchase 3 lots; sell or rent

    Act 46 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  92. Act for securing the city of Philadelphia and the neighborhood thereof from damages by gunpowder - amend - keeper of magazine to sell powder remaining unclaimed for two years; notice of sale

    Act 47 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  93. To incorporate the Pittsburg Navigation and Fire Insurance company

    Act 48 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  94. Declaring certain parts of Matthews run and Spring creek, in Warren county, public highways

    Act 49 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  95. To enable Robert Brown, of the borough of Erie, to perfect his title to two in-lots in the borough of Erie

    Act 50 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  96. Act to regulate inns and taverns - amend - courts in Philadelphia to license oyster cellar keepers; persons licensed under general law not confined solely to tavern keeping

    Act 51 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  97. To authorize Martha Fraley to sell and convey certain real estate

    Act 52 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  98. To authorize William Watson, guardian of the minor children of John Tod, late of Bedford, deceased, to sell and convey certain lots of ground, and vesting the legal estate of certain property in George W. Bertron, and for other purposes

    Act 53 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  99. Act authorizing the Governor to incorporate the Codorus navigation company - amend - collection of instalments of stock; authority to enact by-laws

    Act 54 of 1832 · 1832 · Original text

  100. Act to incorporate an academy or public school in the town of Warren, and for other purposes therein mentioned - amend - appropriation; trustees to give bond; poor children to be educated

    Act 55 of 1832 · 1832 · 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.