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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. Third Class City Code - amend - historical property acquisition, planning commission recommendations

    Act 108 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  2. Limited access highway law - amend - lighting and parking under elevated portions

    Act 109 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  3. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - teacher certification qualifications, disqualifications

    Act 110 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  4. Fireworks Law - amend - definition of "fireworks"

    Act 111 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  5. State police training school local training law - amend - name change to Pennsylvania State Police Academy

    Act 112 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  6. Administrative Code of 1929 - amend - changing name of Pennsylvania State Police Training School to Pennsylvania State Police Academy

    Act 113 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  7. First Class Township Code - amend - mileage allowance for attending annual meeting of State association of township officers

    Act 114 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  8. First Class Township Code - amend - bonds for protection of labor and materialmen

    Act 115 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  9. Second Class Township Code - amend - bonds for protection of labor and materialmen

    Act 116 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  10. Department of Community Affairs fee law

    Act 117 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  11. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - interest on unpaid salaries of school district employees

    Act 118 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  12. Borough Code - amend - removal of diseased plants, shrubs and trees

    Act 119 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  13. Second Class Township Code - amend - bonds for establishing revolving fund

    Act 120 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  14. Third Class City Code - amend - appropriations for handling, storage and distribution of surplus foods

    Act 121 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  15. Housing Authorities Law - amend - contracts or purchases without bids

    Act 122 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  16. Commodities sale law - amend - vegetable and flower seeds

    Act 123 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  17. Fish Law of 1925 - amend - killing of frogs and tadpoles by artificial propagation licensees

    Act 124 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  18. County Code - amend - no-bid contracts for personal services involving professional expert advice

    Act 125 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  19. Municipal employe sick leave regulation law - amend - granting of sick leave, accumulation of sick leave, certificate required for sick leave in excess of three days

    Act 126 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  20. Third Class City Code - amend - lease of port facilities for terms not exceeding 25 years

    Act 127 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  21. Group Life Insurance Policy Law - amend - policy provision that "employes" include elected or appointed officials

    Act 128 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  22. Conveyance - Commonwealth property in Erie County

    Act 129 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  23. Second Class Township Code - amend - compensation of officers for attending association conventions

    Act 130 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  24. Selective Sales and Use Tax Act - amend - Department of Revenue burden of proof in certain cases

    Act 131 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  25. Experimental highway construction authorization law

    Act 132 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  26. Second Class Township Code - amend - supervisor vacancies

    Act 133 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  27. Second Class Township Code - amend - consolidation by court

    Act 134 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  28. Political Subdivision Joint Purchases Law - amend - no-bid expenditures

    Act 135 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  29. Second Class Township Code - amend - recording of plans without township approval

    Act 136 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  30. Pennsylvania Public Lands Act

    Act 137 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  31. Third Class City Code - amend - annexation petitions

    Act 138 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  32. Third Class City Code - amend - terms and salaries of officials and employees of annexed territory, annexation ordinances

    Act 139 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  33. 1937 Magistrates' Court Act - amend - 30-day deadline for stenographer reports, sales of transcript copies

    Act 140 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  34. Insurance Department Act of 1921 - amend - fiduciary capacity of agents and brokers

    Act 141 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  35. Vehicle Code - amend - extending "signal lamp" definition to include trailers or semitrailers

    Act 142 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  36. Vehicle Code - amend - excluding reproductions from definition of "antique motor vehicle"

    Act 143 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  37. Vehicle Code - amend - back-up lamps

    Act 144 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  38. Vehicle Code - amend - school bus lineal seating requirement deleted

    Act 145 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  39. Vehicle Code - amend - volunteer firemen

    Act 146 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  40. Vehicle Code - amend - throwing material from vehicle or tractor

    Act 147 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  41. Vehicle Code - amend - tractor parking prohibitions

    Act 148 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  42. Vehicle Code - amend - tampering with vehicles

    Act 149 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  43. Vehicle Code - amend - limitation of actions

    Act 150 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  44. Vehicle Code - amend - required lighting for vehicles loaded with hay or straw

    Act 151 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  45. Vehicle Code - amend - registration number prima facie evidence

    Act 152 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  46. Vehicle Code - amend - magistrates' fee for summary convictions

    Act 153 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  47. Vehicle Code - amend - rear lamps on motorcycles

    Act 154 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  48. Second Class Township Code - amend - temporary investments

    Act 155 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  49. Fiscal Code - amend - schedule for reports to Secretary of Revenue

    Act 156 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  50. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - high school pupils

    Act 157 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  51. Mental Health Act of 1951 - amend - Selinsgrove State Colony for Epileptics name change to Selinsgrove State School

    Act 158 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  52. Repeal of act of January 24, 1956 (1955 P.L.946, No.292)

    Act 159 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  53. Conveyance - Commonwealth property in Aleppo and Kilbuck Townships, Allegheny County

    Act 160 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  54. Conveyance - Commonwealth property in Blairsville, Indiana County

    Act 161 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  55. Insurance Company Law of 1921 - amend - unearned premium reserves

    Act 162 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  56. Insurance Company Law of 1921 - amend - government-owned companies

    Act 163 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  57. Conveyance - Commonwealth property in Smithfield Township, Huntingdon County

    Act 164 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  58. Borough Code - amend - physical examinations for applicants for police force and fire apparatus operator positions and promotions

    Act 165 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  59. County Code - amend - creation of capital reserve fund for anticipated capital expenditures

    Act 166 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  60. Vehicle Code - amend - length of certain vehicles carrying livestock

    Act 167 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  61. Third class city optional retirement system law - amend - payments toward unfunded liability

    Act 168 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  62. Third Class City Code - amend - payments toward unfunded liability

    Act 169 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  63. Penal Code - amend - false information concerning bombs

    Act 170 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  64. Insurance Company Law of 1921 - amend - guaranteed arrest bond certificates

    Act 171 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  65. First Class Township Code - amend - sewage collection or disposal system

    Act 172 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  66. Second Class Township Code - amend - licensing of transient retail merchants

    Act 173 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  67. Korean Conflict Veterans' Compensation Bond Act - amend - bonds, interest

    Act 174 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  68. Pennsylvania Cigarette Tax Act of 1957 - amend - pledge of full faith and credit of Commonwealth

    Act 175 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  69. Banking Code - amend - limited investment in shares of small business investment companies

    Act 176 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  70. City and town veterans observances expenses appropriation authorization law - amend - American Gold Star Mothers

    Act 177 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  71. Housing Authorities Law - amend - filing and certification prior to sale of bonds

    Act 178 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  72. Conveyance - Commonwealth property in Madison Township, Perry County

    Act 179 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  73. Third class city optional retirement system law - amend - election of payments to widow of members retired on pension or killed in service, contributions increase

    Act 180 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  74. Third Class City Code - amend - election of payments to widows of policemen, firemen and employes retired on pension or killed in service, contributions increase

    Act 181 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  75. Hope Lodge property acquisition and improvement law

    Act 182 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  76. Banking Code - amend - pledge of assets for deposits

    Act 183 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  77. Vehicle Code - amend - abandoned vehicles and tractors

    Act 184 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  78. Vehicle Code - amend - unobstructed windshields

    Act 185 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  79. Fourth to Eighth Class County Assessment Law - amend - compensation of assessor

    Act 186 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  80. 1937 Magistrates' Court Act - amend - acting chief magistrate

    Act 187 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  81. Emergency temporary locations of government law

    Act 188 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  82. Insurance Company Law of 1921 - amend - limited life insurance companies

    Act 189 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  83. Second Class City Policemen Relief Law - reenact and amend - payments to widow and children of members killed while on duty

    Act 190 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  84. Second Class City Employe Pension Law - amend - additional payments

    Act 191 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  85. Sunday sports completion law

    Act 192 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  86. Second Class Township Code - amend - penalty, fine

    Act 193 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  87. Hospital payments law - amend - availability of doctors

    Act 194 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  88. Legislative Budget and Finance Committee law

    Act 195 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  89. Easements - Commonwealth properties in Borough of Emsworth, Allegheny County

    Act 196 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  90. Second Class City Employe Pension Law - amend - service increment

    Act 197 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  91. Conveyance - Commonwealth property in Bear Creek Township, Luzerne County

    Act 198 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  92. Third Class City Code - amend - contract procedures

    Act 199 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  93. Vehicle Code - amend - charge for returned check

    Act 200 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  94. Vehicle Code - amend - traffic signs, deletion of "through traffic" reference

    Act 201 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  95. Public School Employes' Retirement Code of 1959 - amend - multiple service, classification, military service credit, restoration of certain service credits, contributions, payments, superannuation retirement allowance, withdrawal, disability, death

    Act 202 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  96. State Employes' Retirement Code of 1959 - amend - transfer among classes of membership, superannuation retirement, contributions, payments, board duties

    Act 203 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  97. Vehicle Code - amend - dealer registration plates

    Act 204 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  98. Public Utility Law - amend - fees for copies of papers, testimony and records

    Act 205 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  99. Vehicle Code - amend - liability for payment for registration plates

    Act 206 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  100. Vehicle Code - amend - passing school buses

    Act 207 of 1959 · 1959 · 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.