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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. Second Class Township Code - amend - compensation of supervisors for use of motor vehicles to distribute cinder and patching material from stockpile

    Act 159 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  2. Clarion River-Jefferson County bridge authorization law

    Act 160 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  3. Borough Code - amend - appropriation for civic purposes

    Act 161 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  4. Game Law - amend - archery license, archery preserve permit, county treasurer designated as issuing agent

    Act 162 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  5. Natural gas companies incorporation law - amend - merger and consolidation

    Act 163 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  6. Second class corporations supplement law - amend - extending term of existence, extending territory, eliminating certain tax and reporting requirements

    Act 164 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  7. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - first class city magistrates jurisdiction

    Act 165 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  8. 1937 Magistrates' Court Act - amend - Traffic Court of Philadelphia establishment, jurisdiction, seal, costs

    Act 166 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  9. Public School Employes' Retirement Law - amend - Pennsylvania State University, service credits, transfer to system

    Act 167 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  10. State Employes' Retirement System service credit reallowance supplement law

    Act 168 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  11. Corporations restated articles law

    Act 169 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  12. Liquor Code - amend - prohibiting cashing of unemployment compensation or relief checks

    Act 170 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  13. Statutory Construction Act - amend - physician

    Act 171 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  14. Third class city optional retirement system law - amend - election of social security coverage, allowances and benefits under social security

    Act 172 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  15. Third Class City Code - amend - joint and single coverage members defined

    Act 173 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  16. Second and fourth class county fire training school law - amend - limit on expenditures

    Act 174 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  17. First Class Township Code - amend - change of name of first class township

    Act 175 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  18. Second Class County Code - amend - solicitor to recorder of deeds

    Act 176 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  19. Penal Code - amend - unlawfully listening to jury deliberations

    Act 177 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  20. County Code - amend - contracts without advertising

    Act 178 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  21. Public School Employes' Retirement Law - amend - out-of-state service credit

    Act 179 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  22. Banking Code - amend - amount of unsecured loans to officers or employes

    Act 180 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  23. Reference and Arbitration Law - amend - Municipal Court of Philadelphia

    Act 181 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  24. Public School Employes' Retirement System credit retransfer supplement law

    Act 182 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  25. State employes' retirement code of 1923 - amend - Pennsylvania State University officers and employes

    Act 183 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  26. County Code - amend - rooms for use of Disabled American Veterans and Military Order of the Purple Heart, board of control

    Act 184 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  27. County criminal proceedings costs law - amend - payments to constables

    Act 185 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  28. Felony prosecution costs law - amend - payments to constables

    Act 186 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  29. Fourth to Eighth Class County Assessment Law - amend - duplicates for multicounty political subdivisions, assessment ratio

    Act 187 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  30. Third Class City Code - amend - jurisdiction of mayor or alderman

    Act 188 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  31. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - revocation of operating privilege for unlawful possession or sale of narcotics

    Act 189 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  32. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - mental reports

    Act 190 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  33. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - tentative approval of lighting equipment

    Act 191 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  34. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - school bus lighting equipment

    Act 192 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  35. Borough Code - amend - borough manager term of office

    Act 193 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  36. Borough Code - amend - appointment of treasurer and secretary, terms of appointed officers including street commissioner and borough solicitor

    Act 194 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  37. Brodhead Creek-Borough of Stroudsburg bridge authorization law

    Act 195 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  38. Public School Employes' Retirement Law - amend - out-of-State service credit

    Act 196 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  39. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - second class city traffic court notice to appear

    Act 197 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  40. Second Class Township Code - amend - contributions for industrial promotion

    Act 198 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  41. Pennsylvania Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

    Act 199 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  42. Building and Loan Code - amend - passbook certificate, reserves, adverse claims against shares, investments, mortgage loans, merger or consolidation

    Act 200 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  43. Marriage Law - amend - licenses

    Act 201 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  44. Third Class City Code - amend - police pension fund, eligibility, payments

    Act 202 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  45. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - semitrailer length

    Act 203 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  46. Local tax, fee and money refund law - amend - refunding penalties, fines or moneys, procedure, remedy

    Act 204 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  47. Corporations law of 1874 - reenact and amend - action of directors in writing without meeting

    Act 205 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  48. Berks County Prison inspectors expensing law - amend - increase

    Act 206 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  49. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - limiting depreciation payments for using district vehicles to transport pupils

    Act 207 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  50. General State Authority law of 1955 - amend - proceeds of increased borrowing capacity

    Act 208 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  51. State highway law of 1925 - amend - changing certain Lancaster County route

    Act 209 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  52. Land acquisition - tract in Allegheny County to be added to State highway system

    Act 210 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  53. Pennsylvania Election Code - amend - use of buildings outside election district for polling places

    Act 211 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  54. Right-to-Know Law

    Act 212 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  55. Governing body public meeting law

    Act 213 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  56. Counties and townships law - amend - minimum fee for fish, hunters and dog licenses

    Act 214 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  57. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - age at which boards may terminate professional employes

    Act 215 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  58. Public Assistance Law - amend - dependent children, eligibility of relatives of dependent children

    Act 216 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  59. Game Law - amend - hunting with bow and arrow, open season for deer, antlerless deer

    Act 217 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  60. Local additional tax enabling and collection law - amend - limit on tax on personal property of decedent

    Act 218 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  61. Fish Law of 1925 - amend - fish in inland waters, boundary lakes and boundary rivers

    Act 219 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  62. Chester County highway study law

    Act 220 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  63. Local Delinquent Tax Return Law - amend - failure to receive written notice of sale where notices were mailed

    Act 221 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  64. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - joint boards, attendance of school directors at national school boards conventions

    Act 222 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  65. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - elections in districts having no superintendent

    Act 223 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  66. Act of May 15, 1945 (P.L.559, No.220) - repeal of act

    Act 224 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  67. Interstate compact on juveniles law - amend - additional article relating to remedies, court proceedings, residency, jurisdiction, custody

    Act 225 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  68. Scotland School for Veterans' Children establishment law - amend - superintendent acting as trustee, filing of bond

    Act 226 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  69. General State Authority Act of 1949 - amend - additions and improvements to medical colleges receiving State aid, Department of Public Instruction lease contracts and subleases, eminent domain

    Act 227 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  70. Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law - amend - inclusion of multiple-year taxes and rates in one claim

    Act 228 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  71. Penal Code - amend - false information concerning bombs

    Act 229 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  72. Borough Code - amend - appropriation for community nurse services

    Act 230 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  73. Liquor Code - amend - local option provisions, separate petitions for each question

    Act 231 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  74. Hope Lodge gift acquisition law

    Act 232 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  75. The Highlands gift acquisition law

    Act 233 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  76. Mandatory disposition of detainers law

    Act 234 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  77. Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole Law - amend - service of sentences of recommited or paroled persons, jurisdiction of board

    Act 235 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  78. Greene Township tract conveyance law - amend - revoking authority to convey second parcel

    Act 236 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  79. Vital Statistics Law of 1953 - amend - miniature certifications of birth, fee

    Act 237 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  80. Vehicle code of 1929 - amend - technician amateur radio station registration plate

    Act 238 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  81. Commonwealth police commissioning law - amend - certification to Governor and commissioning of administrative department employes

    Act 239 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  82. Summary proceedings fines, penalties and forfeitures disposition law - amend - penalties, removal and prosecution of certain justices of peace

    Act 240 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  83. County criminal proceedings costs law - amend - payment in misdemeanor cases

    Act 241 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  84. Felony prosecution costs law - amend - costs payable by county

    Act 242 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  85. First Class Township Code - amend - ordinances relating to buildings used for human occupancy, validating past actions

    Act 243 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  86. Second Class Township Code - amend - number of days allowed for attending State association meetings

    Act 244 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  87. First Class Township Code - amend - number of days allowed for attending State association meetings

    Act 245 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  88. Borough Code - amend - number of days allowed for attending State association meetings

    Act 246 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  89. Vital Statistics Law of 1953 - amend - registration of children born in other countries, registration of foreign-born adoptees

    Act 247 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  90. Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole Law - amend - removing ceiling on salaries of board secretary and district supervisors

    Act 248 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  91. Support proceedings powers of court law - amend - giving of security in certain cases in first class counties

    Act 249 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  92. Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Law - amend - procedure in first class counties

    Act 250 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  93. Penal Code - giving of security in desertion and nonsupport cases in first class counties

    Act 251 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  94. Pennsylvania Civil Procedural Support Law - amend - procedure in first class counties

    Act 252 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  95. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - classification of school districts

    Act 253 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  96. Insurance Company Law of 1921 - amend - certificate of authority for issuance of nonassessable policies, penalties for false certifications

    Act 254 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  97. Penal Code - amend - court determinations and court orders relating to visitation rights of parents

    Act 255 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  98. Conveyance - Commonwealth property in Hanover Township, Beaver County, to settle pending litigation

    Act 256 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  99. Insurance Company Law of 1921 - amend - requiring surplus over all liabilities

    Act 257 of 1957 · 1957 · Original text

  100. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - rights and status of certain officers, reorganization of districts, supervising principals of joint board or union or merged districts

    Act 258 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.