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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. Railroad company executive committee authorization law

    Act 508 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  2. Railroad corporation shareholders rights law

    Act 509 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  3. Fiduciaries Act of 1949 - amend - investment of funds, power to sell, power to pledge

    Act 510 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  4. Insurance Company Law of 1921 - amend - proceedings to increase capital stock

    Act 511 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  5. Orphans' Court Act of 1951 - amend - divestment of Orphans' Court of Philadelphia jurisdiction over birth records and related matters, conferring exclusive jurisdiction on municipal court

    Act 512 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  6. Administrative Code of 1929 - amend - appropriations to Department of Military Affairs to assist veterans, veterans' widows or veterans' dependents

    Act 513 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  7. Public Utility Law - amend - excluding buses for transportation of school children from definitions of common carrier by motor vehicle and contract carrier by motor vehicle

    Act 514 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  8. Military Code of 1949 - amend - Pennsylvania Air National Guard

    Act 515 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  9. Acquisition - authority and appropriation for real property in Borough of Somerset for use of Somerset State Hospital

    Act 516 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  10. Vehicle Code - amend - dealer, house trailer, mobilehome, office trailer, prohibition on transportation of passengers in mobilehomes, house trailers and officer trailers, penalty

    Act 517 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  11. Vehicle Code - amend - special handling permit for pickup of mobilehomes and office trailers from jobber or dealer

    Act 518 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  12. Vehicle Code - amend - registration fee for mobile homes, house trailers and officer trailers

    Act 519 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  13. Vehicle Code - amend - lighting exemption for certain house trailers, mobilehomes and office trailers

    Act 520 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  14. Vehicle Code - amend - blue warning lights

    Act 521 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  15. Administrative Code of 1929 - amend - powers and duties of Department of Mines and Mineral Industries

    Act 522 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  16. Anthracite mine safety law - amend - mine safety committee

    Act 523 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  17. Coal mine worker recovery law - amend - Department of Mines and Mineral Industries duties, court duties

    Act 524 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  18. County criminal counsel law

    Act 525 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  19. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - annual estimate of costs for instruction and transportation of handicapped children, payments

    Act 526 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  20. County Code - amend - tax duplicate additions and revisions, reassessment, liability

    Act 527 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  21. Joseph Priestley home acquisition by gift law

    Act 528 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  22. Transfer - Commonwealth property in West Goshen Township, Chester County

    Act 529 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  23. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - employment of former school board member as teacher

    Act 530 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  24. Real Estate Tax Sale Law - amend - notice of entry of claim, date of sale, notice of sale, agreement to stay sale, fees

    Act 531 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  25. Penal Code - amend - unlawful entry, penalty

    Act 532 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  26. Vehicle Code - amend - fee for Pennsylvania State Police record, abstract of record of investigation

    Act 533 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  27. Third Class City Code - amend - tax levy provisions when land and buildings are separately taxed

    Act 534 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  28. Insurance Company Law of 1921 - amend - increase of capital stock by stock insurance companies

    Act 535 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  29. Insurance Company Law of 1921 - amend - acquisition or holding of stock of other insurance companies transacting like classes of business

    Act 536 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  30. Second class city government supplement law - amend - plats, subdivisions

    Act 537 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  31. Political subdivision substitute fiduciary to minors law

    Act 538 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  32. Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act - amend - resale, retransfer or reassignment of installment sale contract

    Act 539 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  33. Penal Code - amend - Sunday employment or business

    Act 540 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  34. County criminal proceedings costs law - amend - nonsupport cases

    Act 541 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  35. Vehicle Code - amend - reduced speed limits

    Act 542 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  36. Liquor Code - amend - liquor packages without official seal, unlawful acts relating to official seal

    Act 543 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  37. Beauty Culture Law - amend - waiver of certain educational requirement

    Act 544 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  38. Millersville State Teachers College land acquisition law

    Act 545 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  39. Pennsylvania Institution for Defective Delinquents law - amend - State Correctional Institution at Dallas

    Act 546 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  40. Conveyance - Commonwealth property in City of Erie, Erie County

    Act 547 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  41. General road law - amend - maximum width determination by Secretary of Highways

    Act 548 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  42. Foreign corporation title validation law

    Act 549 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  43. Penal Code - amend - malicious mischief to real or personal property

    Act 550 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  44. Realty Transfer Tax Act - amend - document further defined

    Act 551 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  45. Fish Law of 1925 - amend - regulated fishing lakes

    Act 552 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  46. Liquor Code - amend - applications for hotel, restaurant and club liquor licenses

    Act 553 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  47. Temporary supplemental public school employes' retirement benefits law

    Act 554 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  48. Liquor Code - amend - issuance of hotel, restaurant and club liquor licenses

    Act 555 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  49. Armstrong County State bridge law - amend - location

    Act 556 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  50. First class and first class A school district tax authorization law

    Act 557 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  51. State personal property tax supplement law - amend - gas companies gross receipts

    Act 558 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  52. Selective Sales and Use Tax Act - amend - soft drinks, catalogue orders, dealer's class registration, annual returns, reassessment, bulk and auction sales, lien, suit for taxes, additions or penalties

    Act 559 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  53. Public Official Compensation Law - amend - General Assembly members

    Act 560 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  54. Public Official Compensation Law - amend - payment of General Assembly member salary and expenses

    Act 561 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  55. Conveyance - Commonwealth property in East Allen Township, Northampton County

    Act 562 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  56. State teachers college land acquisition and expansion law - amend - appropriation increase

    Act 563 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  57. Vehicle Code - amend - two-year license period, fees

    Act 564 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  58. State youth development centers acquisition and operation law

    Act 565 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  59. First class city and school district lien law

    Act 566 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  60. Agricultural college federal land grant endowment law - amend - appropriation

    Act 567 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  61. Milk Control Law - amend - cash sale of milk on farms

    Act 568 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  62. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - additional payments to certain school districts

    Act 569 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  63. State employes' temporary supplemental retirement benefits law

    Act 570 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  64. Second Class City Policemen Relief Law - amend - payments to beneficiaries employed by county or State government

    Act 571 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  65. Second Class City Firemen Relief Law - amend - payments to beneficiaries employed in Federal, State or county government service

    Act 572 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  66. Second Class City Employe Pension Law - amend - payments to pensioners employed in government service

    Act 573 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  67. Hollidaysburg State Hospital sewage extension contract law

    Act 574 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  68. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - payments to joint school boards or joint school committees

    Act 575 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  69. Municipality Authorities Act of 1945 - amend - water meter installation

    Act 576 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  70. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - capital reserve fund creation, special tax, expenditure

    Act 577 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  71. Legislative Journal law - amend - contents

    Act 578 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  72. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - sharing annual lease rentals, reimbursement

    Act 579 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  73. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - State Teachers' College room rental increase, disposition

    Act 580 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  74. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - board of directors of union and merged school districts

    Act 581 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  75. Penal Code - amend - unlawful coercion in contracting insurance

    Act 582 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  76. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - annual tax report filing date

    Act 583 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  77. Secretary of the Commonwealth fee law - amend - amended fees, added fees

    Act 584 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  78. Mental Health Act of 1951 - amend - admission application by executive officer or authorized agent, contents of physician's certificate, restraint period extension

    Act 585 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  79. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - permanent certification of certain persons teaching at private institutions

    Act 586 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  80. Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1933 - amend - corporate name

    Act 587 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  81. Pennsylvania Election Code - amend - return board

    Act 588 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  82. Moneys and property solicitation regulation law - amend - exempting volunteer fire companies and associations composed of volunteer or paid firemen

    Act 589 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  83. Vehicle Code - amend - driving over fire hose, penalty

    Act 590 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  84. Willed eye or body part disposition law

    Act 591 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  85. Public School Code of 1949 - amend - assistant superintendent service in single county or joint counties

    Act 592 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  86. Optional Third Class City Charter Law - amend - election of city treasurer

    Act 593 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  87. Penal Code - amend - imposition of penalty for murder of the first degree

    Act 594 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  88. Borough Code - amend - street improvements without petition, assessing costs from abutting property owners

    Act 595 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  89. Military Code of 1949 - amend - retirement of certain colonels as brigadier generals

    Act 596 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  90. Vehicle Code - amend - registration of motor vehicles operated by mass transportation systems

    Act 597 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  91. Public highway excise tax law - amend - exemption of certain vehicles under jurisdiction of Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

    Act 598 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  92. Liquid Fuels Tax Act - amend - deductions from moneys paid to counties, Motor License Fund payments

    Act 599 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  93. Banking Code - amend - declaration and payment of dividends, grant of loans

    Act 600 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  94. Banking Code - amend - common trust funds

    Act 601 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  95. Employee benefit plan transfer in trust law

    Act 602 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  96. Urban Redevelopment Law - amend - relocation of families and businesses, limits on eminent domain

    Act 603 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  97. Redevelopment Cooperation Law - amend - inclusion of school districts and other political subdivisions in the definition of "State public body," cooperation in relocation activities

    Act 604 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  98. State Employes' Retirement Code of 1959 - amend - members of General Assembly, Supreme Court judge, disability, death benefit, retirement board payments to credit union, assignment of rights after payment for default

    Act 605 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  99. Business Development Credit Corporation Law

    Act 606 of 1959 · 1959 · Original text

  100. Insurance Company Law of 1921 - amend - shares of business development credit corporation

    Act 607 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.