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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

3,241 laws of the 1840s

Constitution of 1838

  1. To authorize the erection of public buildings in the county of Fayette, and for other purposes

    Act 270 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  2. Regulating the elections of Bellefonte, Aaronsburg and Youngmanstown turnpike road company

    Act 271 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  3. Authorizing the sale of certain real estate, and for other purposes

    Act 272 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  4. Act to reduce the capital of the Southern insurance company of Philadelphia, and for other purposes - amend - extended to the county of Jefferson

    Act 273 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  5. Act for erecting part of Bedford county into a separate county - amend - pay and duties of commissioners; boundary; Bedford county treasurer's salary

    Act 274 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  6. To incorporate the Farmers' Bank of Schuylkill county

    Act 275 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  7. Act incorporating the Bear Valley coal company - amend - time for completion of railroad extended

    Act 276 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  8. For the relief of the Cumberland valley railroad company

    Act 277 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  9. To incorporate the English Lutheran congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran church of Fountain Dale, in the county of Adams

    Act 278 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  10. For the payment of the volunteer troops of this commonwealth, in service during the riots in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the year 1844

    Act 279 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  11. Concerning certain drafts and surveys

    Act 280 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  12. To facilitate the adaptation of the boundaries of certain trust property to the course of certain public streets

    Act 281 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  13. To authorize a state road to be laid out from a point in the borough of Mercer, to the big bend of the Shenango, and for other purposes

    Act 282 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  14. Relative to the claim of Gilbert S. Parker

    Act 283 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  15. Authorizing the laying out a state road from the Greensburg turnpike, at or near Stewartsville, in the county of Westmoreland, by the way of M'Keesport to the Washington turnpike, at or near Canonsburg, in Washington county, to regulate tolls on the

    Act 284 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  16. To extend the charter of the Carlisle Bank

    Act 285 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  17. To authorize the Bloomsburg railroad and iron company to construct a railroad from the North Branch canal to their iron works, on Fishing creek

    Act 286 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  18. For the relief of the city of Pittsburg

    Act 287 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  19. To establish an asylum for the insane poor of this commonwealth, to be called "The Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital and Union Asylum for the Insane"

    Act 288 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  20. Authorizing the secretary of the commonwealth to distribute copies of the standard of weights and measures, and for the appointment of sealers

    Act 289 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  21. To annul the marriage contract of William B. Chase and Mary A. Chase

    Act 290 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  22. Authorizing the chief burgess and council of the borough of New Castle, in the county of Mercer, to provide a lock-up house in said borough

    Act 291 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  23. Relating to the navigation of the Youghiogheny river

    Act 292 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  24. Changing the names of certain persons

    Act 293 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  25. Granting the courts of this commonwealth the power to appoint viewers to view certain streets and alleys in this commonwealth

    Act 294 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  26. Act erecting a new county to be called Carbon - amend - confirmation of roads

    Act 295 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  27. Authorizing the sale of the real estate of Mary Latta and Elizabeth Latta, deceased, and for other purposes

    Act 296 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  28. Act to authorize the commissioners of the incorporated districts of the county of Philadelphia, to construct works for supplying said districts with water from the Schuylkill river - amend - duties of watering committees, Northern Liberties and Spring Gar

    Act 297 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  29. Act authorizing the governor to incorporate the Philadelphia and Taylorsville railroad company, the Hestonville and Schuylkill railroad company, to amend the charter of the Philadelphia and Reading railroad company, and the Little Schuylkill navigation ra

    Act 298 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  30. To incorporate the American Sunday school union

    Act 299 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  31. Act concerning divorces - amend - decree of court of common pleas; duty of prothonotary; enforce their decrees by attachment

    Act 300 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  32. To incorporate the Presbyterian church, in the borough of Wrightsville, York county

    Act 301 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  33. Act relating to the proceedings in the orphans' court of this commonwealth, and for other purposes - amend - non-agreement of parties in cases of partition; confirmation of prior partitions; terms in 17th judicial district; removal of county seat of Fayet

    Act 302 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  34. Act relating to executions - amend - jurisdiction of aldermen and justices extended; special judgment; on a return nulla bona; return of writ

    Act 303 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  35. For the benefit of Eliza Letitia Buckley, now Yeates

    Act 304 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  36. Concerning the claim of David Cummings

    Act 305 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  37. Act incorporating the Columbia Bank and Bridge Company - amend - annual election

    Act 306 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  38. Act to incorporate the Allegheny county mutual insurance company - amend - cash premiums

    Act 307 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  39. To incorporate the society of the Methodist Episcopal church, of the township of Susquehanna, in the county of Dauphin, with power to sell certain real estate

    Act 308 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  40. Act relating to a certain action pending in the court of common pleas of the city and county of Philadelphia, and relative to special courts in the county of Mifflin - amend - action of debt restored

    Act 309 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  41. To provide for the erection of a house for the employment and support of the poor of the county of Somerset, and for other purposes

    Act 310 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  42. Relating to dog tax in certain townships in Delaware county

    Act 311 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  43. To incorporate the Schuylkill railroad company

    Act 312 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  44. Declaring Beech creek, in Centre county, and Mullengarr, in Warren county, public highways

    Act 313 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  45. To regulate the standard weight of Indian corn

    Act 314 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  46. To extend the boundaries of the borough of Kittanning, in Armstrong county, and for other purposes

    Act 315 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  47. To incorporate the Good Will fire engine company, number one, of the city of Philadelphia

    Act 316 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  48. To annul the marriage contract of Thomas Stewart and Harriet, his wife

    Act 317 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  49. Relating to the constable of the borough of Somerset

    Act 318 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  50. To incorporate the Temperance beneficial association of Germantown, Philadelphia county

    Act 319 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  51. Act incorporating the Bank of North America - amend - capital stock restored

    Act 320 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  52. To vest the title of certain real estate in James Patterson, jr., of Mountjoy, Lancaster county

    Act 321 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  53. Act to incorporate the Lenox and Harmony turnpike road company, and for other purposes - amend - time for finishing road extended

    Act 322 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  54. Restoring to citizenship Zephania Barber, of Luzerne county

    Act 323 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  55. Authorizing the commissioners of Cumberland county to borrow money, and for other purposes

    Act 324 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  56. To incorporate the Kensington fire company, number one, in the county of Philadelphia

    Act 325 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  57. To authorize Martha Ann Ogle to sell and convey certain real estate

    Act 326 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  58. To lay out a state road from the Somerset and Mount Pleasant turnpike road, on the top of Chesnut Ridge, in Fayette county, to intersect the Somerset and Cumberland turnpike road at or near the Gibler's farm, in Somerset county, and for other purposes -

    Act 327 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  59. To annul the marriage contract of Salmon Bartlett, and Phebe Jane R., his wife

    Act 328 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  60. Supplement to an act for taking lands in execution for the payment of debts - amend - original act extended; liens in certain cases; registry; mortgage liens

    Act 329 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  61. To authorize the governor to incorporate a company for improving the navigation of Muddy creek

    Act 330 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  62. Authorizing the sale of certain lands in Carbon county

    Act 331 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  63. Act to incorporate the North Branch canal company - amend - time extended; construct works; rates of toll; borrow money; additional commissioners; inspection of books by legislature

    Act 332 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  64. Vacating part of the Old Masters' street of Masters' lane, in Penn township, in the county of Philadelphia, and for other purposes

    Act 333 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  65. To incorporate the Mutual fire insurance company of Hummelstown, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania

    Act 334 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  66. To authorize the appropriation of certain road taxes in Schuylkill county, to the opening of a road in Pinegrove township, in said county

    Act 335 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  67. Relating to the controllers of the public schools of the city and county of Philadelphia

    Act 336 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  68. To annul the marriage contract of Joseph P. Jones, and Charlotte S., his wife

    Act 337 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  69. To annul the marriage contract of John Rose, and Diane, his wife

    Act 338 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  70. For the relief of Elizabeth Holdren, widow of an old soldier

    Act 339 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  71. To authorize Samuel Jarden, of the city of Philadelphia, guardian of Angelina Epplesheimer, a minor child of Lewis Epplesheimer, senior, and Anna, his wife, late of the county of Philadelphia, to sell and dispose of certain real estate

    Act 340 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  72. Providing for the determination and settlement of claims for damage done the by the construction of the Erie division of the Pennsylvania canal

    Act 341 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  73. General Appropriation Act of 1845

    Act 342 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  74. To extend the time for the completion of the Sandy and Beaver canal

    Act 343 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  75. Act to incorporate an academy or public school, in the town of Norris, and county of Montgomery, and for other purposes therein mentioned - amend - trustees; annual meetings; election of officers; occupancy of academy; trustees to pay a claim; roads over

    Act 344 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  76. To incorporate the Shaefferstown water company

    Act 345 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  77. Regulating election districts

    Act 346 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  78. Conferring the privileges of stockholders on certain creditors of the Philadelphia and Reading railroad company

    Act 347 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  79. To increase the revenues and diminish the legislative expenses of the commonwealth

    Act 348 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  80. Concerning certain sheriffs and coroners sales, and for other purposes

    Act 349 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  81. Appointing commissioners to run and establish the line between the counties of Warren and M'Kean, and for other purposes

    Act 350 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  82. Act to preserve and perfect the validity of judgments entered upon the continuance of appearance dockets of the courts - amend - judgments and liens not entered; transcripts and confessions; justices ineligible to office of prothonotary or clerk; jurisdic

    Act 351 of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  83. Resolution relative to the publication of tavern licenses in the city of Lancaster, during the January term of the mayor's court for the present year, 1845

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  84. Resolution authorizing the Hon. Charles Huston to copy certain papers relative to land titles

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  85. Resolution relative to the account of Daniel Rissell

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  86. Resolution relative to the election of overseers of the poor of the city of Pittsburg

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  87. Resolution relative to a M'Adamized national road from the United States arsenal, at Pittsburg, to the harbor at Erie

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  88. Resolution relative to the claim of Sarah Pettit

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  89. Resolution relative to an inventory of the state library

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  90. Resolution relating to turnpike stock purchased by S. Meylert, and for other purposes

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  91. Resolution explanatory of the act of assembly approved February 19, 1845

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  92. Resolution relative to the improvement of the Allegheny river

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  93. Resolution relative to certain school districts

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  94. Resolution to extend the time for completing the Danville railroad

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  95. Resolution relative to the claim of John S. King and Company

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  96. Resolution relative to the claims of Thomas Collins

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  97. Resolution relative to the claim of Philip Noon

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  98. Resolution to compel the Susquehanna and Tide Water canal company to receive their notes and certificates for tolls

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  99. Resolution relative to Charles Horton, prothonotary of Elk county

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · Original text

  100. Resolution relative to the claims of the Reliance Portable boat company

    Resolution of 1845 · 1845 · 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.