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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

7,883 laws of the 1860s

Constitution of 1838

  1. To provide Stationery and Postage for the Soldiers of this State Drafted into the Service of the United States.

    Act 675 of 1861 · P.L. 744 · May 10, 1861 · Scanned page

  2. Supplement to an act to establis^h a Board of "Wardens for the Port of Philadelphia, and for the Regulation of Pilots and Pilotages, and for other purposes therein mentioned, passed twenty-ninth of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and three.

    Act 676 of 1861 · P.L. 745 · 1861 · Scanned page

  3. To establish a Volunteer Nurse Corps.

    Act 677 of 1861 · P.L. 746 · May 14, 1861 · Scanned page

  4. Supplementary to the act incorporating the borough of Easton.

    Act 678 of 1861 · P.L. 747 · May 14, 1861 · Scanned page

  5. Supplement to an act for the Regulation of the Militia of this Commonwealth, approved April twenty-first, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.

    Act 679 of 1861 · P.L. 748 · May 15, 1861 · Scanned page

  6. To Create a Loan and to Provide for ArmiDg\thc State.

    Act 680 of 1861 · P.L. 749 · May 15, 1861 · Scanned page

  7. To authorize the Commissioners of Dauphin County to appropriate a certain sum of money for the support of the Families of Volunteers during the present war.

    Act 681 of 1861 · P.L. 757 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  8. Relating to Notaries Public.

    Act 682 of 1861 · P.L. 758 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  9. To aatliori2;e the Brigade Inspector of the Second Brigade, Seventh Division, Fennsylvania Militia, to appoint a Deputy.

    Act 683 of 1861 · P.L. 759 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  10. Providing for the Pay of Volunteers.

    Act 684 of 1861 · P.L. 760 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  11. Eelative to the Expenses incurred in Boarding and Lodging Volunteers mustered into service from the county of Bradford.

    Act 686 of 1861 · P.L. 761 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  12. Relating to the Home Guard of the city of Philadelphia.

    Act 687 of 1861 · P.L. 762 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  13. the Governor to appoint « Brigade In^pador for the IM Brigade of the SeventeeDth DiTiBion, FeoDsjlvaiua Jiilitia.

    Act 688 of 1861 · P.L. 764 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  14. Authorizing the Governor to appoint a Brigade Inspector for the Third Brigade of the Seventeenth Division, Pennsylvania Militia.

    Act 689 of 1861 · P.L. 764 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  15. To authorize the Qaartermaster General to purchase Clothins for Troops.

    Act 690 of 1861 · P.L. 765 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  16. For the Relief of George Jordan. VVhereas, George Jordan, of the city of Philadelphia, and formerly an employee of the commonwealth, was very severely injured, without fault of his own, while in the discharge of his duty on the Columbia railroad, at the Pequea brid^-e : And whereas, By virtue of an act, entitled "An Act authorizing the auditor general and state treasurer to examine the claim

    Act 691 of 1861 · P.L. 765 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  17. Supplementary to an act, entitled "A supplement to an act to incorporate the Malioney and Broad Mountain Railroad Company," approved March tvventy-nintb, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.

    Act 693 of 1861 · P.L. 767 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  18. Relative to Military Expenses In certain Counties of tbis Commonwealth.

    Act 694 of 1861 · P.L. 769 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  19. Supplement to the act for the better organization of the Militia of the Commonwealthj approved the twelfth of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.

    Act 695 of 1861 · P.L. 769 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  20. To authorize the Council and Inhabitants of the borough of Frankford to borrow money to erect Gas Works in the borough; relative to the Powelton School House, in Philadelphia county; to the American College of Medicine, and to holding Elections in Delaware township, Juniata county.

    Act 697 of 1861 · P.L. 780 · February 26, 1861 · Scanned page

  21. Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Eagle Iron Company," approved the fifth day of May, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and forty-one.

    Act 698 of 1861 · P.L. 781 · April 13, 1861 · Scanned page

  22. To extend and continue the Charter of the Diligent Fire Engine Company of Philadelphia, and to grant the said conapany further privileges.

    Act 699 of 1861 · P.L. 783 · April 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  23. To incorporate the Johnstown and Ashtola Tramroad and Railroad Company.

    Act 700 of 1861 · P.L. 784 · March 22, 1861 · Scanned page

  24. To incorporate the Butler Mutual Insurance Company.

    Act 701 of 1861 · P.L. 786 · April 11, 1861 · Scanned page

  25. To incorporate the Logansville "Water Company.

    Act of 1861 · P.L. 787 · February 1, 1861 · Scanned page

  26. To charter the Delaware County Association for insuring against Horse Stealing and detecting Horse Thieves.

    Act of 1861 · P.L. 787 · February 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  27. To incorporate the East Maach Chunk Water Company,

    Act 704 of 1861 · P.L. 789 · February 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  28. To the actio incorporate the Crawford County Mutual Insurance Company.

    Act 705 of 1861 · P.L. 790 · March 6, 1861 · Scanned page

  29. To incorporate the Trustees of the township of Jenkins, Luzerne county.

    Act 706 of 1861 · P.L. 790 · March 6, 1861 · Scanned page

  30. A N ACT To incorporate the Trustees of the borough of Pittston, Luzerne eoimiy.

    Act 707 of 1861 · P.L. 792 · March 12, 1861 · Scanned page

  31. To change the name of Jones township, in Elk county.

    Act 708 of 1861 · P.L. 794 · March 21, 1861 · Scanned page

  32. To incorporate the Somerset Iron and Coal Compacy of Pennsylvania.

    Act 709 of 1861 · P.L. 795 · 1861 · Scanned page

  33. To incorporate the Dimes Savings Institution of Lewisburg.

    Act 712 of 1861 · P.L. 801 · March 30, 1861 · Scanned page

  34. To incorporate the Dimes Saying Institution of Allentown, in Lchrgh county.

    Act 713 of 1861 · P.L. 804 · March 30, 1861 · Scanned page

  35. To incorporate the Harrisburg Market Companj.

    Act 714 of 1861 · P.L. 806 · March 31, 1861 · Scanned page

  36. To incorporate the Sullivan County Coal Company.

    Act 716 of 1861 · P.L. 809 · April 2, 1861 · Scanned page

  37. To incorporate the Middlctown Gas Light Corupany.

    Act 718 of 1861 · P.L. 812 · April 2, 1861 · Scanned page

  38. To incorporate the Attleborough Railroad Company.

    Act 719 of 1861 · P.L. 813 · April 2, 1861 · Scanned page

  39. To incorporate the Potter County Railroad Company. May receive, lea>'e, mortgage and sell land^in certain counties,

    Act 720 of 1861 · P.L. 814 · April 2, 1861 · Scanned page

  40. To incorporate the Mifflin and Centre County Railroad Company.

    Act 721 of 1861 · P.L. 815 · April 2, 1861 · Scanned page

  41. To incorporate the Wills Creek Boom Company, in Bedford county.

    Act 722 of 1861 · P.L. 816 · April 2, 1861 · Scanned page

  42. To change the name of William Augustus Clark Zerman to William Augustus Clark.

    Act 723 of 1861 · P.L. 819 · April 2, 1861 · Scanned page

  43. To incorporate the Fort Clinton Bridge Company.

    Act of 1861 · P.L. 821 · April 2, 1861 · Scanned page

  44. To incorporate the Port Clinton Bridge Company.

    Act 725 of 1861 · P.L. 821 · April 2, 1861 · Scanned page

  45. To authorize the Administrator of William Hancock, deceased, to sell certain Real Estate.

    Act 726 of 1861 · P.L. 822 · April 2, 1861 · Scanned page

  46. To iDcorporate the Etna Insurance Company, to be located in Philadelphia.

    Act 728 of 1861 · P.L. 825 · April 3, 1861 · Scanned page

  47. To incorporate the Susquehanna Bridge Company, at Safe Harbor, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.

    Act 729 of 1861 · P.L. 826 · April 3, 1861 · Scanned page

  48. To incorporate the Roberts Iron Company of Lehigh oonnty.

    Act 730 of 1861 · P.L. 833 · April 3, 1861 · Scanned page

  49. To incorporate the Merion Cemetery.

    Act 731 of 1861 · P.L. 834 · April 3, 1861 · Scanned page

  50. To incorporate the Souih Pittsburg Coal Company,

    Act 732 of 1861 · P.L. 836 · July 28, 1861 · Scanned page

  51. In relation to Ground Rents and Judgments in Philadelphia cotinty.

    Act 734 of 1861 · P.L. 840 · September 6, 1861 · Scanned page

  52. To incorporate the Susquehanna and Philadelphia Railroad Company.

    Act 735 of 1861 · P.L. 842 · December 5, 1861 · Scanned page

  53. Providing for the Payment of certain Moneys duo the Military Fund of Washington county.

    Act 736 of 1861 · P.L. 843 · December 5, 1861 · Scanned page

  54. Relative to Actions of Ejectment.

    Act 737 of 1861 · P.L. 844 · December 5, 1861 · Scanned page

  55. Supplement to an act to Prevent the Erection of Bone-Boiling Establishments in the First ward of the city of Philadelphia, and Montgomery county.

    Act 738 of 1861 · P.L. 845 · December 5, 1861 · Scanned page

  56. To authorize the Controller and City Treasurer of the city of Philadelphia to audit and settle the Military Account of H. B. Yeager, late Brigade Inspector.

    Act 739 of 1861 · P.L. 845 · December 12, 1861 · Scanned page

  57. Supplement to an act approved the eighth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and tifty-nine, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Pittsburg and East Liberty Passenger Railway Company.

    Act 1 of 1861 · January 8, 1861 · Scanned page

  58. Extending the provisions of the act of eighteen hundred and fifty-one, to the borough of Green Castle.

    Act 2 of 1861 · January 9, 1861 · Scanned page

  59. To authorize the Court of Common Pleas of Berks county to appoint Auditors to re-audit and re-settle the account of George Feather, late Treasurer of Berks county.

    Act 4 of 1861 · January 11, 1861 · Scanned page

  60. To authoriae the School Directors of Beallsville, Washington county, to borrow money.

    Act 5 of 1861 · January 11, 1861 · Scanned page

  61. Relating to the Road Laws of the county of Tioga.

    Act 6 of 1861 · January 11, 1861 · Scanned page

  62. Authorizing the Governor to appoint a Notary PubUc for the borough of Washington.

    Act 7 of 1861 · January 21, 1861 · Scanned page

  63. Authorizing the Governor to appoint two additional Notaries Public, to reside in the city of Philadelphia.

    Act 8 of 1861 · January 24, 1861 · Scanned page

  64. Supplement to an act to incorporate the Butler Mutual Insurance Company.

    Act 9 of 1861 · January 10, 1861 · Scanned page

  65. Relating to a writ of error in the case of Alexander Guthrie and Hugh Magdire, plaintifts in error, vs. Samuel Wilson, defendant in error.

    Act 10 of 1861 · January 28, 1861 · Scanned page

  66. To change the time for holding Borough Elections in the borough of Auburn, Schuylkill county.

    Act 14 of 1861 · January 28, 1861 · Scanned page

  67. Relative to Treasurer's Sales in the county of Beaver.

    Act 15 of 1861 · January 28, 1861 · Scanned page

  68. Legalising certain Dockets of the Justices of the Peace of the borough of

    Act 349 of 1861 · April 17, 1861 · Scanned page

  69. Relative to the Pay of the Retiring Officers of the General Assembly.

    Resolution 1 of 1861 · P.L. 723 · January 8, 1861 · Scanned page

  70. Relative to the Legislative Manual and Pardon's Digest.

    Resolution 2 of 1861 · P.L. 723 · 1861 · Scanned page

  71. Authorising the State Treasurer to Fay the Expenses of the Eleetoral College of the fifth day of December last.

    Resolution 3 of 1861 · P.L. 724 · January 21, 1861 · Scanned page

  72. Relative to the Maintenance of the Constitution and the Union. VVherkas, a convention of delegates, assembled in the city of Charleston, in the state of South Carolina, did on the twentieth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty, adopt an ordinance, entitled "An ordinance to dissolve the union between the state of South Carolina and other states united

    Resolution 6 of 1861 · P.L. 725 · January 24, 1861 · Scanned page

  73. To procure an American Flag for the Dome of the Capitol.

    Resolution 7 of 1861 · P.L. 727 · January 29, 1861 · Scanned page

  74. Relative to a Tariff.

    Resolution 8 of 1861 · P.L. 728 · January 29, 1861 · Scanned page

  75. To pay Expenses of Inauguration.

    Resolution 10 of 1861 · P.L. 729 · February 5, 1861 · Scanned page

  76. To pay John Hall, as Clerk to the Committee in the Contested Election of Lewis Pughe.

    Resolution 11 of 1861 · P.L. 730 · February 6, 1861 · Scanned page

  77. Relative to Lightning Conductors on the Dome of the Capitol.

    Resolution 13 of 1861 · P.L. 731 · February 13, 1861 · Scanned page

  78. Relative to the pay of William B. Turner, as Clerk to the Committee trying the Contested Election Case in the First Legislative District of Philadelphia.

    Resolution 14 of 1861 · P.L. 732 · February 26, 1861 · Scanned page

  79. To pay Expenses in procuring Flag-staff and Flags on the Dome of the Capitol, under resolution directing the same, approved January twentyninth, eighteen hundred and sixty-one.

    Resolution 15 of 1861 · P.L. 732 · March 1, 1861 · Scanned page

  80. For the payment of the recently appointed Commissioners to 'Wasliington,

    Resolution 16 of 1861 · P.L. 733 · March 2, 1861 · Scanned page

  81. To pay S. T. Jones certain moneys.

    Resolution 17 of 1861 · P.L. 734 · March 21, 1861 · Scanned page

  82. Relative to the pay of James P.

    Resolution 18 of 1861 · P.L. 734 · March 30, 1861 · Scanned page

  83. for the pay of Samuel M. Fox, Clerk to the Committee on Banks of the Senate.

    Resolution 19 of 1861 · P.L. 735 · April 18, 1861 · Scanned page

  84. Xo maintain inviolate the Constitution and Sovereignty of the United States.

    Resolution 20 of 1861 · P.L. 735 · April 18, 1861 · Scanned page

  85. To pay Incidental Expenses incnrred in making arrangements for the Celebration on the twenty-second February.

    Resolution 21 of 1861 · P.L. 736 · April 24, 1861 · Scanned page

  86. Relative to the pay of the Peace Commissioners.

    Resolution 22 of 1861 · P.L. 737 · April 25, 1861 · Scanned page

  87. To iiuichase the Manuscripts of the State Book of Pennsylvania.

    Resolution 23 of 1861 · P.L. 737 · May 1, 1861 · Scanned page

  88. Authorizing the Second English Lutheran Congregation of the city of Harrisburg, to connect Gas Pipe within the enclosure of the Public Grounds, et cetera.

    Resolution of 1861 · P.L. 739 · May 1, 1861 · Scanned page

  89. For the payment of the Expenses of the Committee in the Contested Election Case of Joseph Caldwell.

    Resolution 24 of 1861 · P.L. 739 · 1861 · Scanned page

  90. Relative to the Extra

    Resolution 1 of 1861 · P.L. 773 · May 1, 1861 · Scanned page

  91. Relative to admitting Volunteer Companies into Camp.

    Resolution 3 of 1861 · P.L. 774 · May 7, 1861 · Scanned page

  92. Relative to the admission of the JeffersonRiflemen, of Virginia, into Camp.

    Resolution 4 of 1861 · P.L. 774 · May 10, 1861 · Scanned page

  93. Relative to the Philadelphia Artillery Regiment.

    Resolution 5 of 1861 · P.L. 775 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  94. Relative to the procuring of Standards for the several Regiments of Pennsylvania called or to be called into the Service of the United States.

    Resolution 6 of 1861 · P.L. 776 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  95. Authorizing tlie Purchase of Colonel D. "W". C. Baxter's Infantry Drill.

    Resolution 7 of 1861 · P.L. 777 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  96. Directing the Appropriation of the Money presented to the State by the Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania.

    Resolution 8 of 1861 · P.L. 777 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  97. Relative to Revising of the Revenue Laws of the Commonwealth.

    Resolution 9 of 1861 · P.L. 778 · May 16, 1861 · Scanned page

  98. To authorize Michael C. Trout to sell and convey, as Trustee, the property of the Sharon Iron Company.

    Act 14 of 1862 · P.L. 11 · February 5, 1862 · Scanned page

  99. To incorporate the New Castle and Beaver Valley Railroad company.

    Act 15 of 1862 · P.L. 12 · February 6, 1862 · Scanned page

  100. To incorporate the Association for the Publication and Diffusion of Religious Periodicals in the Lutheran Church. Corporators. Title. Powers. Seal. Object. Capital stock. Officers. Ej-laws. ProTiso. Executive ooiumittee.

    Act 16 of 1862 · P.L. 14 · February 5, 1862 · Scanned page

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.