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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

5,371 laws of the 1850s

Constitution of 1838

  1. To authorize the commissioners of Allegheny county, and the corporation of the borough of Easton, to borrow money

    Act 1 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  2. Relating to a tavern license in Mifflin county

    Act 2 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  3. To authorize Edward Y. Farquhar to mortgage certain real estate in the city of Philadelphia

    Act 3 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  4. To confirm the title to certain real estate situate in the city of Philadelphia

    Act 4 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  5. To authorize the commissioners of Adams county to re-build their county prison

    Act 5 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  6. Act to create permanently the office of state printer - amend - German printing to be allotted to the lowest bidder

    Act 6 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  7. Relative to collateral inheritances

    Act 7 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  8. To legalize a certain ordinance of the commissioners and inhabitants of the Kensington district of the Northern Liberties

    Act 8 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  9. To amend the charter of the Second Jackson benevolent society of Philadelphia county

    Act 9 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  10. To change the name of the York Savings Bank to that of the York County Bank

    Act 10 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  11. Fixing the place of holding elections in certain townships in Susquehanna and Lehigh counties

    Act 11 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  12. Act to change the township lines of Lake and Lehman, in the courts of Luzerne, and for other purposes - repeal - sections 11 and 12

    Act 12 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  13. To incorporate the Pittsburg and Braddock's Field plank road company

    Act 13 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  14. Act to authorize the governor to incorporate the Delaware County turnpike road company - amend - authorized to lay tracks of plank roads; width of artificial part of road

    Act 14 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  15. Authorizing the trustees of Margaret Manderson to sell certain real estate

    Act 16 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  16. Relating to the common schools of the city of Lancaster

    Act 17 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  17. To authorize the commissioners of roads and highways for the township of Pleasant, Warren county, to levy additional road tax

    Act 18 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  18. Erecting an independent school district out of parts of Westmoreland and Fayette counties, to be called Bridgeport

    Act 19 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  19. Act to authorize the commissioners of Lycoming county to borrow money, and for other purposes - repeal - section 4

    Act 20 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  20. To change the time of holding the courts in the counties of Tioga, Warren and Carbon

    Act 21 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  21. Relative to the purchase by the United States of a certain banking house and lot in the town of Erie, Erie county, to be used as a custom house

    Act 22 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  22. To authorize the council and inhabitants of the borough of Frankford to borrow money, and to revise the plan of the survey and regulation of said borough

    Act 23 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  23. Granting a certain strip or piece of land in front of the lots of the town of Beaver, on the Ohio river, to the borough of Beaver, and authorizing said borough to construct wharves and landings on the same

    Act 24 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  24. Forming the borough of Saegertown, in the county of Crawford, into a separate election district; and for changing the place of holding elections in certain election districts; and to a town-house in East Fallowfield township, in Crawford county - enactmen

    Act 25 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  25. To authorize John Beitler and Ezekiel Evans to sell a lot of ground in Uwchlan township, Chester county, for school purposes; and relating to the borough of Canonsburg, Washington county

    Act 26 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  26. Act to establish the university at Lewisburg - amend - certified copies to be received in evidence; purchase made valid

    Act 27 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  27. To change the place of holding the elections in Brokenstraw township, Warren county, and Sugar Creek township, Venango county

    Act 28 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  28. To authorize the Jenkinstown lyceum company to borrow money

    Act 29 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  29. Relating to elections in the township of Wilmot, county of Bradford, and the assessment and collection of taxes in the same

    Act 30 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  30. To divide the borough of Allentown, in the county of Lehigh, into two wards

    Act 31 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  31. To incorporate the cemetery of the Methodist Episcopal church at Lewistown

    Act 32 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  32. To extend the time for completing the Butler and Freeport turnpike road

    Act 33 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  33. General Appropriations Act of 1849 - amend - correcting a clerical error

    Act 34 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  34. Authorizing William M. M'Cormick to pay an annuity charged upon his land

    Act 35 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  35. Act to authorize the governor of this state to incorporate a company to construct a bridge over the river Delaware, and near the town of Milford, in the county of Wayne, Pennsylvania - amend - issue new stock; new stockholders to be deemed the only stockh

    Act 36 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  36. Relative to the safe keeping of prisoners in the county of Mifflin

    Act 37 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  37. Act to authorizing the governor to incorporate the Philadelphia and Reading railroad company - amend - mortgage declared valid; surrender of property; stockholders to be jointly liable as partners trading; payment of state taxes

    Act 38 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  38. Allowing compensation to the auditor general and state treasurer, for their services as commissioners of the internal improvement fund and sinking fund

    Act 39 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  39. Changing the place of holding elections in the township of Mount Pleasant, county of Wayne

    Act 40 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  40. To confer on George Waddle, of Greene township, Franklin county, all the rights and privileges of a child born in lawful wedlock

    Act 41 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  41. Relative to the destruction of wolves and panthers in the county of Centre

    Act 42 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  42. Authorizing the committee of the estate of Peter Young, a lunatic, to apply the estate of said lunatic for his support

    Act 43 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  43. Act relating to bridges in Luzerne and Wayne counties - repeal - as relates to the county of Wayne

    Act 44 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  44. To incorporate the Holmesburg Athenaeum association, in the county of Philadelphia

    Act 45 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  45. To perfect and preserve the validity of judgments entered upon the appearance dockets in the county of Tioga

    Act 46 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  46. To vacate Larch and Birch streets, in the Kensington district, and to vacate Arsenal street, in the district of Moyamensing, Philadelphia county

    Act 47 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  47. To incorporate the Farmers' mutual fire insurance company of Schuylkill county

    Act 48 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  48. Authorizing the county commissioners of Schuylkill and Northampton counties to borrow money, and relative to the assessments of Adams county

    Act 49 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  49. To lay out and cause to be opened a state road from the Lunatic hospital to the Susquehanna river; and relative to a turnpike road in Indiana county

    Act 50 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  50. Act to incorporate the Equitable insurance, life insurance, annuity and trust company, and for other purposes - amend - name changed; profits to be divided pro rata; invest funds; married women insured; management of life and health department; first boar

    Act 51 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  51. Act authorizing the governor to incorporate the Wrightsville and New Holland turnpike road company, and for other purposes - amend - list of trials and jurors in York county to be published

    Act 52 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  52. Act to authorize the incorporation of a company to erect a bridge over the Juniata river at Newport, Perry county - amend - revived and extended 3 years

    Act 53 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  53. Act to incorporate the Summit Branch railroad company, in Dauphin and Schuylkill counties - amend - additional powers; hold lands; extend road

    Act 54 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  54. For the relief of the Pennsylvania institution for the instruction of the blind

    Act 55 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  55. Act to incorporate the Dauphin and Susquehanna coal company - amend - issue additional stock

    Act 56 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  56. Authorizing the trustees under the will of David Bacon, deceased, to sell certain real estate

    Act 57 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  57. To authorize the sale of a certain school house in the town of Hampton

    Act 59 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  58. To change the time of holding the courts in the counties of Somerset and Bedford

    Act 60 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  59. To incorporate the Philadelphia steam-tug and navigation company

    Act 61 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  60. To provide for the expenses of commissioners to determine and fix the boundary lines of the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware

    Act 62 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  61. Act to incorporate the Kensington steamboat and navigation company - amend - permit conveyance of passengers or transportation of merchandize to and from Philadelphia

    Act 63 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  62. To incorporate the Morrisville cemetery association

    Act 64 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  63. To incorporate the Medico-Chirurgical college of Philadelphia

    Act 65 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  64. To incorporate the New Brighton female seminary

    Act 66 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  65. To refund to Charles Macalester an over-payment made by him into the state treasury

    Act 67 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  66. To abolish special courts in Fayette county, and to transfer the causes therein depending into the court of common pleas

    Act 68 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  67. Regulating election districts

    Act 69 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  68. To establish the act of incorporation of the Wyoming seminary of the Oneida annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal church

    Act 70 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  69. Authorizing the council of the borough of Monongahela City, Washington county, to open a street in said borough

    Act 71 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  70. Relating to commissions of justices of the peace in the county of Bradford

    Act 72 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  71. To erect Montoursville, in Lycoming county, into a borough

    Act 73 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  72. To authorize David Meconkey, trustee of Susanna Lungren, to sell certain real estate

    Act 74 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  73. In relation to the estate of John Bell, deceased, late of the city of Philadelphia

    Act 75 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  74. To confer on Charles Fell, of Lancaster county, the rights and privileges of a child born in lawful wedlock

    Act 76 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  75. To incorporate the Glenwood cemetery company

    Act 77 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  76. For the relief of Sabina Lynn, of Chester county

    Act 78 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  77. To change the name of David Gemmill Bordley to that of James Bordley Gemmill

    Act 79 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  78. To incorporate a company to construct a turnpike or plank road, or a road partly turnpike and partly plank, from Greensburg, in Westmoreland county, to Harvey's Five Points, on the Pittsburg and New Alexandria turnpike road, in said county; and in relatio

    Act 80 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  79. To incorporate the Odd Fellows hall association of Monroe county

    Act 81 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  80. To authorize Elizabeth Glading, and others, to convey certain real estate situate in the city of Philadelphia

    Act 82 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  81. Authorizing the governor to incorporate the Huntingdon and M'Aleavy's Fort plank road company

    Act 83 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  82. Relative to supervisors in the township of North Butler, Butler county

    Act 84 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  83. Relative to election districts

    Act 85 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  84. Relative to the Lancaster county prison

    Act 86 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  85. Act authorizing the erection of a poor house in the county of Westmoreland - amend - directors; commissioners to negotiate a loan

    Act 87 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  86. Act regulating election districts, and for other purposes - amend - boundary lines affected; erecting Mississinewa township repealed

    Act 88 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  87. Act relative to certain school districts in the counties of Jefferson, Indiana, Cambria, Westmoreland, etc. - amend - Alleppo township erected into sub-school districts

    Act 89 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  88. Vesting in the trustees of the Baptist church of Hilltown, Bucks county, the title to certain real estate

    Act 90 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  89. To incorporate the Eclectic medical college of Pennsylvania

    Act 91 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  90. To incorporate the Zerbe's run and Shamokin improvement company

    Act 92 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  91. Relative to the estate of John Wood, deceased; and relative to the estate of Caspar Coxen, deceased

    Act 93 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  92. To incorporate the Mahonoy and Shamokin improvement company

    Act 94 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  93. To erect and regulate certain townships and election districts in Beaver and Lawrence counties; and relative to the road laws in certain counties

    Act 95 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  94. To confirm the title to certain real estate situate in the counties of Adams, Bedford and Somerset

    Act 96 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  95. In relation to elections and certain election districts

    Act 97 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  96. To correct clerical errors in the appropriation act of April 10, 1849, relative to the claims of R. Smith, Sarah and Rhoda Barber, and Hannaniah Gant, and to provide for the payment of the claims of John N. Graft and Robert W. Smith

    Act 98 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  97. Regulating certain election districts

    Act 99 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  98. Authorizing the representatives of Peter Miller, deceased, to pay certain moneys to the German Reformed and Lutheran congregations of Easton

    Act 100 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  99. Relative to the appraisement of mercantile taxes in the county of Berks

    Act 101 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text

  100. Relative to the distribution of an unexpended balance of money remaining in the treasury of York county, among the several school districts of said county

    Act 102 of 1850 · 1850 · 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.