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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

1,819 laws of the 1930s

Constitution of 1874

  1. Public School Employes' Retirement Law - amend - extending the time for a present employe to elect to be covered by the retirement system; back contributions

    Act 123 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  2. The Fiscal Code - amend - regulating refunds; deposits of State moneys; penalties for late filing of certain reports

    Act 124 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  3. The Fish Law of 1925 - amend - authorizing the Board of Fish Commissioners to close streams for a period after stocking the same

    Act 125 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  4. Empowering private corporations hereafter formed and municipalities to establish, operate, and maintain foreign-trade zones in or adjacent to ports of entry of the United States in accordance with the act of Congress of the United States

    Act 126 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  5. Act fixing the time when statutory law hereafter enacted shall become effective - amend

    Act 127 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  6. The Divorce Law - amend - jurisdiction of the courts in divorce actions

    Act 128 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  7. Public School Code - amend - authorizing the officers of school districts to join with or aid any individual or association in the maintenance, or the establishment and maintenance, of a public library

    Act 130 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  8. The Fish Law of 1925 - amend - exempting persons fishing in the waters of the Delaware River lying between New York and Pennsylvania, holding a fishing license issued by the State of New York, and persons fishing in the waters of the Pymatuning Lake, hold

    Act 131 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  9. Act to provide civil rights for all people, regardless of race or color - amend - amplifying and extending the provisions; increasing the penalties for violation

    Act 132 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  10. The General County Assessment Law - amend - assessment of seated lands divided by the boundary line between two townships

    Act 133 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  11. Authorizing the Department of Property and Supplies to sell and convey a portion of the lands acquired for a State Military Cemetery in Centre County

    Act 134 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  12. Prescribing the courts to which successive appeals by the same or different parties, but involving the same questions shall be taken

    Act 135 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  13. Act to limit the period within which petitions for the assessment of damages for the opening or widening of any street, road or highway, may be filed in the court of quarter sessions - amend - State highways; cases in which no limitation has been made

    Act 136 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  14. Act establishing portions of certain highways lying partially within the corporate limits of cities, boroughs, or incorporated towns as State highways - amend - include as State highways portions of the highway outside municipalities

    Act 137 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  15. The Fiscal Code - amend - releasing parts of the real property of a corporation from the lien of State taxes upon payment of a proportionate share of such taxes

    Act 138 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  16. Empowering the Department of Property and Supplies to grant to the borough of Huntington a right of way or easement to lay a water line across lands of the Pennsylvania Industrial School

    Act 139 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  17. Banking Code - amend - powers and limitations upon the acts of corporations and persons authorized to engage in a banking or a fiduciary business and of affiliates of such corporations or persons, and of officers, directors, trustees, and employes of such

    Act 140 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  18. Authorizing the waiver of trial by jury in criminal cases and the trial of such cases by a judge without a jury

    Act 141 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  19. Establishing a certain section of public road as a State highway

    Act 142 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  20. Act providing that highways abandoned as State highway routes shall revert for maintenance to the prior party responsible for the maintenance - amend - applicable to former State-aid highways; sections formerly turnpikes or toll roads shall be the respons

    Act 143 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  21. Establishing certain public roads and streets in the city of Harrisburg and county of Dauphin as a State highway

    Act 144 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  22. Act authorizing the Department of Property and Supplies to construct and dedicate a monument to John Morton - amend - acquisition of the birthplace of John Morton in the borough of Prospect Park; reducing the amount of the State appropriation and amount

    Act 145 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  23. Designating the Department of Internal Affairs as the agency of the Commonwealth to approve or disapprove petitions to courts, and plans for the readjustment of debts of political subdivisions

    Act 146 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  24. The Borough Code - amend - authorizing boroughs to acquire, maintain, and operate bus feeder lines in connection with inclined plane passenger and vehicular traffic transportation facilities

    Act 147 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  25. Act relating to the commencement of actions in Chester County - repeal

    Act 148 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  26. Relating to counties of the first class; deceased service persons; contributions by the county to the funeral expenses for such persons and their widows

    Act 149 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  27. The Vehicle Code - amend - payment of fine and costs imposed, before restoration of operating privilege; duties upon clerks of the courts

    Act 150 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  28. The Fiscal Code - amend - establishing the State Forests and Waters Fund

    Act 151 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  29. Act authorizing the Secretary of Highways to join two or more State highway routes, by the construction of connecting roads - amend - section two

    Act 152 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  30. Authorizing courts to stay legal proceedings against banks, bank and trust companies, and trust companies where any such corporation has guaranteed to pay in cash the amount or value of trust placed with it for investment

    Act 153 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  31. Act regulating certain political parties - amend - prohibiting candidates for certain offices from being candidates for more than one party nomination; requiring candidates' affidavits from candidates for additional offices

    Act 154 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  32. Cigarette Tax Act

    Act 155 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  33. Act authorizing the appointment by the Governor of industrial police upon application of certain corporations, companies, associations, and individuals - repeal

    Act 156 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  34. The Fish Law of 1925 - amend - permitting eel chutes on the north branch of the Susquehanna River to the city of Pittston and Duryea Borough line

    Act 157 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  35. The Uniform Firearms Act - amend - exempting hunters and fishers, and persons training dogs from the licensure provisions

    Act 158 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  36. Act providing for the deferring of sentences pending the mental examination of defendants - amend - appeals

    Act 159 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  37. Act relating to corporations and to estates held for corporate, religious, and charitable uses - amend - method of holding the title to and controlling real and personal property for the use of any church, congregation, or religious society; conferring ju

    Act 160 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  38. The General County Law - amend - authorizing counties of the third class to appropriate money to county poor districts for hospital purposes

    Act 161 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  39. Authorizing the taking of oaths and affidavits by certain employes of the Department of Military Affairs

    Act 162 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  40. Relating to the furnishing, sale, delivery, weighing, and importation of unmanufactured horse manure

    Act 163 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  41. Act relating to and regulating the solicitation of moneys and property for charitable, religious, benevolent, humane, and patriotic purposes - amend - certificates of registration may not be issued to individuals; refund of fees where certificates of regi

    Act 164 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  42. The General County Law - amend - method of appointing minute clerks of the courts of common pleas, and courts of quarter sessions and oyer and terminer in counties of the second class

    Act 165 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  43. The General County Law - amend - appointment and the fixing of the salaries of a chief minute clerk and assistant minute clerks of the orphans' court in counties of the second class

    Act 166 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  44. The Third Class City Code - amend - collection of city, county, school, and poor taxes in cities of the third class by the city treasurer as tax collector; requiring the city treasurer to give one bond as treasurer and collector of all of said taxes

    Act 167 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  45. Banking Code - amend - powers and limitations upon the acts of corporations or persons authorized to engage in a banking or fiduciary business and of affiliates of such corporations or persons

    Act 168 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  46. Banking Code - amend - powers and limitations upon the acts of corporations or persons authorized to engage in a banking or fiduciary business and of affiliates of such corporations or persons

    Act 169 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  47. Act relating to banks, trust companies, savings banks and other banking institutions - amend - extending its effective period

    Act 170 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  48. Penal Code of 1860 - amend - extending to fixtures, hunting lodges, cabins, cottages, and barns

    Act 171 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  49. Act to authorize the Department of Highways and the county commissioners to occupy and relocate rights of way of public service companies - amend - changing provisions as to State highways

    Act 172 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  50. State Employe's Retirement Law - amend - opening the system further for original members; defining officers and employes of the Pennsylvania State College as State employes; calculation of annuities; rights of retired persons who return to State service

    Act 173 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  51. Making it unlawful to tattoo a minor without the consent of the parents or guardian

    Act 174 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  52. Act requiring and regulating the examination, licensure, and registration of persons, and corporations, engaging in the care, preparation, and disposition of the bodies of deceased persons - amend - prohibiting the issuance of licenses to the registration

    Act 175 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  53. Boroughs may issue bonds to refund bonds issued for the payment of water-works

    Act 176 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  54. Arbitration by Contract Law - amend - prescribing the time for making application to stay proceedings pending arbitration; authorizing appeals from orders granting or refusing such stays, or from orders directing or refusing to direct the parties to arbit

    Act 177 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  55. Act relating to municipal indebtedness - amend - limiting existing indebtedness as covered by the section to bonded indebtedness

    Act 178 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  56. Banking Code - amend - powers and limitations of corporations or persons authorized to engage in a banking or fiduciary business and of affiliates of such corporations; removing the exemption in the case of private banks

    Act 179 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  57. Act providing for the abatement of tax penalties and interest on certain city and school taxes in the cities and school districts of the first class - amend - changing the date for instalment payments; relieving real estate from the payment of certain cos

    Act 180 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  58. The Liquid Fuels Tax Act - amend - imposing an additional tax on liquid fuels for a limited period of time

    Act 181 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  59. State Personal Property Tax Act

    Act 182 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  60. Amusement Tax Act

    Act 183 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  61. Act to provide revenue by imposing a State stamp tax upon certain documents and obligations - amend - defining taxable documents, and persons, associations, and corporations subject to pay the tax

    Act 184 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  62. Authorizing the Commonwealth to negotiate temporary emergency loans to defray the current and/or other expenses of the State government during the two fiscal years beginning the first day of June, 1935

    Act 185 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  63. Act authorizing the abatement of certain tax penalties and interest on county, city (except first class), borough, town, township, school district (except first class), and poor district taxes - amend - extending the time for payment of taxes for 1935; fi

    Act 186 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  64. Sunday Polo Act

    Act 187 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  65. Sunday Tennis Act

    Act 188 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  66. Alienation of Affections and Breach of Promise Act

    Act 189 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  67. General State Authority Act of 1935

    Act 190 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  68. Municipality Authorities Act of 1935

    Act 191 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  69. Act defining and regulating escheats in cases where property is without a lawful owner - amend - extending the same to funds and money, estates or effects in the custody, or under the control of certain United States courts; fixing jurisdiction

    Act 192 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  70. Enforcement Officer Disability Benefits Law

    Act 193 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  71. Fixing the salary of the clerk to the President of the Senate and the salary of the stenographer to the Speaker of the House of Representatives

    Act 194 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  72. The Permanent Registration Act in Cities of the Third Class

    Act 195 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  73. Limiting the time within which suits for malicious prosecution or false arrest must be brought

    Act 196 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  74. Protect the obligors or guarantors of bonds and mortgages by restricting the right to proceed against certain property and persons

    Act 197 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  75. Banking Code - amend - establishment and maintenance of branch banks, branch offices, agencies, sub-offices, sub-agencies, or branch places of business

    Act 198 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  76. Authorizing and regulating the reorganization of banks and bank and trust companies

    Act 199 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  77. Banking Code - amend - powers and limitations upon powers of corporations with fiduciary powers

    Act 200 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  78. Authorizing courts to stay suits or proceedings brought against any corporate fiduciary to enforce payment of cash by the fiduciary

    Act 201 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  79. Department of Banking Code - amend - powers and duties of the Department of Banking; powers and duties of the Secretary of Banking; creation of the Banking Board

    Act 202 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  80. Department of Banking Code - amend - removing the exemption in the case of certain private banks

    Act 203 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  81. Defining the term "fiduciary"; prescribing the nature and kind of investments which may be made by such fiduciaries

    Act 204 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  82. Banking Code - amend - powers and limitations upon the powers of corporations and persons authorized to engage in a banking business

    Act 205 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  83. Fiduciaries Act of 1917 - amend - investments of trust funds by fiduciaries

    Act 206 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  84. Act providing for the examination, licensure, and registration of persons, firms, or corporations engaged or engaging in the business or work of plumbing or house drainage - amend - powers and duties

    Act 207 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  85. Act relating to the form, execution, revocation, and interpretation of wills - amend

    Act 208 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  86. Building and Loan Code - amend - rights, powers, duties, liabilities, and immunities of building and loan associations, and of their employes; approval of a plan of merger without action of the shareholders of the surviving association

    Act 209 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  87. Milk Sanitation Law

    Act 210 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  88. Sunday Motion Pictures Act

    Act 211 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  89. Relating to the preparation of a new or revised Constitution of the Commonwealth by convention and its adoption or rejection by the people

    Act 212 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  90. Act relating to the form, execution, revocation, and interpretation of wills - amend - extending the period for a surviving spouse to elect to take under or against a will, in case a will is contested

    Act 213 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  91. Validating adoptions in courts of record of the Commonwealth

    Act 214 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  92. Governing the payment of witness fees to Commonwealth witnesses in criminal proceedings and prohibiting duplicate payments

    Act 215 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  93. Authorizing the State Historical Commission to investigate and to report to the next session of the Legislature upon the area, boundaries, and dimensions of the Brandywine Battlefield of the Revolutionary War and to accept gifts or deeds of historic objec

    Act 216 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  94. Act providing for the protection of the public health and the prevention of fraud and deception by regulating the weighing, testing, buying, and selling of milk and cream - amend - issuing of permits; prohibiting the taking of inaccurate samples; records

    Act 217 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  95. Pymatuning Swamp Reservoir Project Law - amend - additional powers and duties on the Water and Power Resources Board

    Act 218 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  96. Limiting the mileage cost for return of subpoenas in criminal cases to the trips actually made

    Act 219 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  97. Blind Persons Pension Act

    Act 220 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  98. Act making an appropriation out of the Motor License Fund to the Department of Highways for the maintenance of certain roads during the calendar years 1934 & 1935 - amend - construction of second class township streets and bridges; validating and reductio

    Act 221 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  99. Malt Beverage Tax Law - amend - imposition of taxes on manufacturers of malt and brewed beverages and others importing or bringing such beverages into this Commonwealth; taxes by public service licensees; reports; confiscation of malt and brewed beverages

    Act 222 of 1935 · 1935 · Original text

  100. Making an appropriation out of the Motor License Fund to the Department of Highways for allocation to, and expenditures in, cities of the first class and various second class townships for maintenance, construction, and reconstruction streets and bridges

    Act 223 of 1935 · 1935 · 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.