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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

2,985 laws of the 1950s

Constitution of 1874

  1. Notary Public Law

    Act 373 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  2. Administrative Code of 1929 - amend - power of Governor to fix comptrollers compensation

    Act 374 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  3. Fiscal Code - amend - comptroller written requisitions approval

    Act 375 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  4. Second Class Township Code - amend - improvements and facilities payment upon annexation

    Act 376 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  5. Mental Health Act of 1951 - amend - temporary restraint of mentally ill person

    Act 377 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  6. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - educational television

    Act 378 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  7. Constitutional convention referendum law

    Act 379 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  8. Third Class City Code - amend - tunnels, bridges, viaducts

    Act 380 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  9. Municipality Authorities Act of 1945 - amend - certain proceedings and projects under order of Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, conveyance agreement

    Act 381 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  10. Liquor Code - amend - scope of local option, intercounty transfer of distributor and importing distributor licenses

    Act 382 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  11. Marriage Law

    Act 383 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  12. First Class School District Business Tax Act - amend - receipts relating to contract for sale of certain mined products

    Act 384 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  13. Housing project acquisition or leasehold law

    Act 385 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  14. Acquisition - tract in Rush Township, Centre County, for use of Philipsburg State Hospital

    Act 386 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  15. Public Assistance Law - amend - county boards of assistance, eligibility for assistance, Federal reimbursement

    Act 387 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  16. Housing and Redevelopment Assistance Law - amend - tenant admissions in urban redevelopment projects

    Act 388 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  17. State Farms Products Show land acquisition law of 1953

    Act 389 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  18. Administrative Code of 1929 - amend - contracts for utility services supplied by electric cooperative corporations

    Act 390 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  19. First class city employee pension fund law - amend - credit for service with school district of the first class

    Act 391 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  20. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - education and training of handicapped children, Commonwealth reimbursement

    Act 392 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  21. Pennsylvania Workmen's Compensation Act - amend - disability, minors, appropriation to compensate physicians, surgeons and experts

    Act 393 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  22. Pennsylvania Workmen's Compensation Act - amend - death compensation, disability compensation, notice

    Act 394 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  23. Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act - amend - rates, employer payments, Commonwealth payments

    Act 395 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  24. Unemployment Compensation Law - amend - disposition of obsolete files, civil service appointments, contributions, eligibility, ineligibility, compensation

    Act 396 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  25. Sixth judicial district additional common pleas judge law

    Act 397 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  26. Thirty-fifth judicial district additional common pleas judge law

    Act 398 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  27. Ninth judicial district additional common pleas judge law

    Act 399 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  28. Adoption law of 1925 - amend - report to court, voluntary relinquishment, abandonment, when notice or consent not required, consents not naming adoptive parents, hearings

    Act 400 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  29. Penal Code - amend - violation and penalty relating to prison riots

    Act 401 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  30. Penal Code - amend - assault by prisoner

    Act 402 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  31. Penal Code - amend - assault by life prisoner

    Act 403 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  32. Prison industries surplus sales law - repeal of act

    Act 404 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  33. Correctional inmate wage law - repeal of act

    Act 405 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  34. Administrative Code of 1929 - amend - transferring certain administrative boards from Department of Welfare to Department of Justice

    Act 406 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  35. Prisoner Transfer Law - amend - eliminating transfers to Central State Penitentiary at Rockview

    Act 407 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  36. Administrative Code of 1929 - amend - transfer of certain Department of Welfare powers to Department of Justice

    Act 408 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  37. Penal and correctional districting law

    Act 409 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  38. Penal and correctional boards of trustees law

    Act 410 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  39. Correctional diagnostic and classification centers law

    Act 411 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  40. Eastern Penitentiary-Western Penitentiary convict transfer law - amend - authority of Deputy Commissioner for Treatment, costs

    Act 412 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  41. Fiscal Code - amend - designating the Department of Justice for the Department of Welfare

    Act 413 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  42. Pennsylvania Institution for Defective Delinquents law

    Act 414 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  43. Penal Code - amend - holding a hostage in a penal institution

    Act 415 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  44. Administrative Code of 1929 - amend - products and services by blind persons

    Act 416 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  45. Penal Code - amend - prison breach

    Act 417 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  46. Pennsylvania Industrial School law - amend - court jurisdiction on sentencing, authority of deputy commissioner for treatment relating to transfers, exclusive jurisdiction of parole board relating to parole

    Act 418 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  47. Prisoner Transfer Law - amend - transfers by deputy commissioner for treatment

    Act 419 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  48. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - lease of unused and unnecessary lands and buildings

    Act 420 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  49. County criminal proceedings costs law - amend - time for payment of county-payable costs of aldermen and justices of the peace

    Act 421 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  50. Felony prosecution costs law - amend - time for payment of county-payable costs of aldermen and justices of the peace

    Act 422 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  51. Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1933 - amend - corporations incorporated before 1874

    Act 423 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  52. School projects contract law

    Act 424 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  53. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - annual registration fees, maximum gross weights of certain commercial vehicles

    Act 425 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  54. State officer and agency funds investment regulation law - amend - investment powers of administrative entities

    Act 426 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  55. First class school district personal property tax - amend - valuation of certain taxable stock shares

    Act 427 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  56. Acquisition - tract and buildings in Somerset Township, Somerset County

    Act 428 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  57. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - right of approval and validation of leases entered into with municipal authorities and nonprofit corporations

    Act 429 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  58. Administrative Code of 1929 - amend - transfer of Pennsylvania Aeronautics Commission to Department of Military Affairs, commission membership

    Act 430 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  59. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - limit on certain State Public School Building authority projects

    Act 431 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  60. Public employee strike law - amend - grievance procedure

    Act 432 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  61. First Class City Home Rule Act - amend - election of certain city officers, Philadelphia city council legislative powers relating to city offices, boards and commissions,

    Act 433 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  62. Pennsylvania Election Code - amend - nominations to fill certain vacancies

    Act 434 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  63. Third Class City Code - amend - limit on police work week except in emergencies

    Act 435 of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  64. Appropriation Laws 78A (General Appropriation Act of 1953)

    Appropriation Act of 1953 · 1953 · Original text

  65. Instruments of deed or transfer residence certification law - amend - inclusion of complete post office address on grantee certificate

    Act 1 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  66. Second Class County Assessment Law - amend - notice by registered mail, return receipt requested

    Act 2 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  67. Second class city Department of Water establishment supplement law

    Act 3 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  68. Penal Code - amend - prohibition on discarding or abandoning refrigerators and iceboxes without removing doors

    Act 4 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  69. Unemployment Compensation Law - amend - eligibility, ineligibility, remuneration, oath, contribution rate, period to obtain reduced rate, pregnancy, compensation recovery and recoupment

    Act 5 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  70. Second Class County Code - amend - civil service commissioner incompatible offices

    Act 6 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  71. Moneys and property solicitation regulation law - amend - exempting organizations comprised of mothers of servicepersons killed in service

    Act 7 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  72. Reorganization Act of 1955

    Act 8 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  73. Pennsylvania Hospital Survey and Construction Act - amend - bringing act within scope of Federal Medical Facilities Survey, appropriation

    Act 9 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  74. General Assembly officers and employes law - amend - compensation, appropriations

    Act 10 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  75. Port of Philadelphia board of wardens supplement law - amend - rates of pilotage

    Act 11 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  76. Township State Highway Law - amend - abandoning part of certain Beaver County route

    Act 12 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  77. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - special registration lists, amateur radio station special registration

    Act 13 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  78. Local additional tax enabling and collection law - amend - exempting certain resolutions from advertising requirements

    Act 14 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  79. Real Estate Tax Sale Law - amend - fee, notice, distribution of proceeds

    Act 15 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  80. The General County Law - amend - appropriations for handling, storage and distribution of surplus foods

    Act 16 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  81. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - adequate lighting of school buildings, safe water supply

    Act 17 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  82. Local Delinquent Tax Return Law - amend - editorial correction relating to redemption period

    Act 18 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  83. Local Delinquent Tax Return Law - amend - failure to serve written notice

    Act 19 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  84. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - registration fee exemption for vehicles exclusively owned and used by Italian-American World War Veterans of the United States Incorporated

    Act 20 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  85. Veterans affairs affidavits and acknowledgments taking authorization law - amend - Italian-American World War Veterans of the United States Incorporated

    Act 21 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  86. Fish Law of 1925 - amend - free licenses to certain veterans

    Act 22 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  87. Third Class City Code - amend - suspension, right of appeal

    Act 23 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  88. Insurance Company Law of 1921 - amend - purposes for which companies may be incorporated, automobile liability insurer obligations

    Act 24 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  89. The General County Law - amend - county fair associations

    Act 25 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  90. Second Class County Assessment Law - amend - Board of Property Assessment, Appeals and Review member qualifications

    Act 26 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  91. First Class Township Code - amend - lighting assessments

    Act 27 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  92. Alcoholism study and treatment law - amend - concurrent jurisdiction of Municipal Court of Philadelphia and common pleas courts in court commitment

    Act 28 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  93. Liquid Fuels Tax Act - amend - extending additional tax

    Act 29 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  94. Fuel Use Tax Act - amend - extending additional tax

    Act 30 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  95. Borough Code - amend - printed, photostatic and microfilmed records

    Act 31 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  96. Permanent Registration Act for Cities of the Second Class, Cities of the Second Class A, Cities of the Third Class, Boroughs, Towns and Townships - reenact and amend - title, jurisdiction of second class, second class A & third class cities, registration

    Act 32 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  97. Urban Redevelopment Law - amend - proposal, contract, bond

    Act 33 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  98. Fourth to Eighth Class County Assessment Law - amend - period to establish permanent records system, enforcement, mandamus, court jurisdiction

    Act 34 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  99. Second Class County Code - amend - retirement contributions, allowances, service increment, vesting, eligibility, mental incapacity, disability

    Act 35 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  100. World War II Veterans' Compensation Act - amend - application period

    Act 36 of 1955 · 1955 · 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.