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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. Acquisition - tract and buildings in Indiana Borough, Indiana County, for use of Indiana State Teachers' College, appropriation

    Act 638 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  2. Acquisition - tract and buildings in White Township, Indiana County, for use of Indiana State Teachers' College, appropriation

    Act 639 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  3. Acquisition - tract in Indiana Borough, Indiana County, for use of Indiana State Teachers' College, appropriation

    Act 640 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  4. Veterans compilation law

    Act 641 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  5. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - entities excluded from annual school tax

    Act 642 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  6. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - school districts of the first class A and first class subsidy parity

    Act 643 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  7. Acquisition - tracts in Edinboro Borough, Erie County, for use of Edinboro State Teachers' College, appropriation

    Act 644 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  8. Acquisition - acreage in Washington Township, Erie County, for use of Edinboro State Teachers' College, appropriation

    Act 645 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  9. Joint committee on anthracite and bituminous subsidence law

    Act 646 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  10. Acquisition - tracts in Lock Haven, Clinton County, for use of Lock Haven State Teachers College, appropriation

    Act 647 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  11. Acquisition - acreage in Lock Haven, Clinton County, for use of Lock Haven State Teachers College, appropriation

    Act 648 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  12. Public School Employes' Retirement Law - amend - payments to fund in lieu of reimbursement by certain institutions

    Act 649 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  13. Intermediate unit plan law

    Act 650 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  14. Administrative Code of 1929 - amend - Coal Research Board

    Act 651 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  15. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - speed

    Act 652 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  16. Conveyance - Canal Basins in City of Erie to City of Erie

    Act 653 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  17. City of Erie acreage conveyance of 1953 - amend - conveyance without consideration for public purposes

    Act 654 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  18. Liquid Fuels Tax Municipal Allocation Law

    Act 655 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  19. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - superintendent, principal and teacher minimum salaries, budget revisions, temporary loans

    Act 656 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  20. Public Official Compensation Law

    Act 657 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  21. State employes retirement code of 1923 - amend - adjustments under social security

    Act 658 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  22. Third Class City Code - amend - adjustments under social security

    Act 659 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  23. Public School Employes' Retirement Law - amend - adjustments under social security, reimbursement from appropriations

    Act 660 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  24. Third class city optional retirement system law - amend - adjustments under social security, actuarial determination of liability

    Act 661 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  25. Commonwealth employees and officers social security benefits law - reenact and amend - political subdivisions, civilian employees of National Guard, local retirement, contributions, referenda and certification

    Act 662 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  26. Washington and Fayette Counties State highway toll bridge law

    Act 663 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  27. Public School Employes' Retirement Law - amend - final salary

    Act 664 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  28. Public School Employes' Retirement Law - amend - return to service with full retirement rights

    Act 665 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  29. Public School Employes' Retirement Law - amend - back payments

    Act 666 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  30. Public School Employes' Retirement Law - amend - disability and superannuation

    Act 667 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  31. Second class city printing contract law

    Act 668 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  32. Second Class County Code - amend - printing contracts

    Act 669 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  33. Comic books, magazines and other publications distribution regulation law

    Act 670 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  34. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - net brake horsepower, registration application, maximum gross weights, minimum engine capacity, weight of vehicles and loads

    Act 671 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  35. Public School Employes' Retirement Law - amend - classification

    Act 672 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  36. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - transportation of pupils to classes and schools for children with handicaps, reimbursements

    Act 673 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  37. State employes' retirement system service credit supplement law

    Act 674 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  38. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - area technical school advance payments, reimbursement, tuition

    Act 675 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  39. Acquisition - lands comprising Captain William Phillips' Rangers Memorial, Liberty Township, Bedford County

    Act 676 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  40. Second Class Township Code - amend - limitations on holding certain offices, compensation, expenses, State association, real estate, assessment, burial ground, ordinances, roads and highways, subdivisions, board of adjustment

    Act 677 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  41. Administrative Code of 1929 - amend - Department of Property and Supplies standards, report to General Assembly, appropriation

    Act 678 of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  42. Appropriation Law 150A (General Appropriation Act of 1955)

    Appropriation Act of 1955 · 1955 · Original text

  43. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - additional registration classes, fees and maximum gross weights for commercial motor vehicles and truck tractors

    Act 1 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  44. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - representation on board of directors of union and merged districts

    Act 2 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  45. Liquid Fuels Tax Act - amend - reimbursement of taxes paid on liquid fuels consumed in operation of certain tractors and machinery for agricultural purposes

    Act 3 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  46. Municipal Borrowing Law - amend - records retention, record disposal

    Act 4 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  47. County Code - amend - eligibility of law librarian for county employe retirement plan

    Act 5 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  48. Vehicle code of 1929 - reenact - magistrates notice by registered or certified mail

    Act 6 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  49. Twelfth judicial district additional law judge law

    Act 7 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  50. First Class Township Code - amend - convening commissioners organization meeting the first day after legal holiday

    Act 8 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  51. Junkyard regulation law

    Act 9 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  52. Government employee military training leave status law - amend - coast guard reserve

    Act 10 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  53. Temporary advisory commission for agency reorganization law - reenact and amend - reactivating and extending commission

    Act 11 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  54. Local option referendum certification law - amend - application to township officers

    Act 12 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  55. Pennsylvania Tunnel Commission abolition law

    Act 13 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  56. Political subdivision public records law - amend - records destruction or disposal by county controllers

    Act 14 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  57. Fourth to Eighth Class County Assessment Law - amend - new assessment system first-year appeals, validating certain appeals

    Act 15 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  58. Political subdivision public records law - amend - records destruction or disposal by county commissioners

    Act 16 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  59. Borough Code - amend - council organization meeting on first day following legal holiday

    Act 17 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  60. Municipal claim and tax lien law of 1957

    Act 18 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  61. State personal property tax supplement law - amend - increased tax on gross receipts of utilities

    Act 19 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  62. Cigarette Tax Act - amend - extending additional tax

    Act 20 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  63. Joint interstate board reporting law

    Act 21 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  64. County Code - amend - county commissioners organization meeting

    Act 22 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  65. Realty Transfer Tax Act - amend - appointment of county recorder of deeds as agent for sale of tax stamps

    Act 23 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  66. Selective Sales and Use Tax Act - amend - manufacture, printing, rebuilding, sale at retail, tangible personal property, food and beverages, returns, refund

    Act 24 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  67. Game Law - amend - possession or ownership of dogs by unnaturalized foreign-born residents

    Act 25 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  68. Second Class County Code - amend - prothonotary's litigation

    Act 26 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  69. Third Class City Code - amend - city council organization meeting

    Act 27 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  70. County assessment rolls law

    Act 28 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  71. Second Class Township Code - amend - roads and highways ordinances

    Act 29 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

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

    Act 30 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

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

    Act 31 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  74. Penal Code - amend - violation of rules governing state forest reserves, state parks, state forest picnic areas, state forest monuments and state historical parks

    Act 32 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  75. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - issuance of registration plates to news photographers

    Act 33 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  76. Delaware River Port Authority police and enforcement law

    Act 34 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  77. Second Class City Law - amend - salaries of nonelected officials and employees

    Act 35 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  78. Permanent Registration Act for Cities of the Second Class, Cities of the Second Class A, Cities of the Third Class, Boroughs, Towns and Townships - amend - alphabetically arranged street lists

    Act 36 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  79. Third Class City Code - amend - repayment before retirement

    Act 37 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  80. Corporation Income Tax Law - reenact and amend - permanent tax, net income

    Act 38 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  81. Corporate Net Income Tax Act - reenact and amend - permanent tax, tangible property fraction, net income

    Act 39 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  82. Private Detective Act of 1953 - amend - former member of Pennsylvania State Police application for license

    Act 40 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  83. Tractor Code - amend - classification of tractor used as portable saw mill rig

    Act 41 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  84. Third Class City Code - amend - audits by independent certified public accountant

    Act 42 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  85. Game Law - amend - protection of hawks

    Act 43 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  86. Clarion River high level bridge construction law

    Act 44 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  87. Third Class City Code - amend - controller and treasurer vacancies

    Act 45 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  88. Third Class City Code - amend - contracts, advertising

    Act 46 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  89. General State Authority Act of 1949 - amend - bond for rental equipment

    Act 47 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  90. Forest Reserves Municipal Financial Relief Law - amend - Commonwealth payment of charges

    Act 48 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  91. Municipality Authorities Act of 1945 - amend - contracts, advertising

    Act 49 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  92. Township State Highway Law - amend - adding routes in Clinton County

    Act 50 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  93. Selective Sales and Use Tax Act - amend - excluding sale or use of coal, assessment, purchase price, recovery of erroneous refunds, Board of Finance and Revenue review, precollections, motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, overpayment, bond

    Act 51 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  94. Liquid Fuels Tax Municipal Allocation Law - amend - payment formula, population calculations

    Act 52 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  95. Bridge study - Susquehanna River between Kingston and Plains Township in Luzerne County

    Act 53 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  96. Chester River highway-bridge construction law

    Act 54 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  97. Public Utility Law - amend - school buses, common carrier by motor vehicle, contract carrier by motor vehicle

    Act 55 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  98. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - limitations on operation of passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles

    Act 56 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  99. Third Class City Code - amend - increase of police pension allowances after retirement

    Act 57 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  100. Uniform Acknowledgment Act - amend - deleting references to Phillipine Islands, deleting reference to homestead, authentication of acknowledgments

    Act 58 of 1957 · 1957 · 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.