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The 1776 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

5,371 laws of the 1850s

Constitution of 1838

  1. To authorize the appointment of three additional Notaries Public in the county of Chester.

    Act 478 of 1859 · P.L. 485 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  2. To incorporate the Pennsylvania Annual Conference of the Methodist ^ » Protestant Church.

    Act 479 of 1859 · P.L. 485 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  3. To incorporate the Towanda Library Association.

    Act 480 of 1859 · P.L. 487 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  4. To incorporate the Richlandtown Turnpike Road Company.

    Act 481 of 1859 · P.L. 489 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  5. To authorize the Chartiers Valley and Henipfield Railroad Companies to lease their several roads.

    Act 482 of 1859 · P.L. 490 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  6. To prevent the Destruction of Trout during the Spawning Season, in the counties of Lycoming, Clinton and Sullivan.

    Act 483 of 1859 · P.L. 490 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  7. To alter the General Borough Laws, so far as relates to the borough of,. Nazareth, Northampton county.

    Act 484 of 1859 · P.L. 491 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  8. To authorize the President and Managers of the Milford and Richland Turnpike Road Company to borrow money.

    Act 486 of 1859 · P.L. 493 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  9. To declare the North Branch of Twolick Creek, in Indiana county, a Public Highway.

    Act 487 of 1859 · P.L. 494 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  10. Supplement to an act to authorize the Tyrone and Clearfield Railroad Company to Borrow Money.

    Act 488 of 1859 · P.L. 494 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  11. To provide for taking Testimony in cases of Contested Elections of Members of the Goneral Assembly.

    Act 489 of 1859 · P.L. 495 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  12. Supplement to an act to incorporate the Green Castle and Middlebiirg Turnpike Road Company, approved jMarch the first, Anao Doiniui one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.

    Act 490 of 1859 · P.L. 496 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  13. Establishing the location of the Streets, Alleys and Lots in a certain part of the borough of Johnstown, Cambria county.

    Act 491 of 1859 · P.L. 497 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  14. For the Relief of John S.

    Act 492 of 1859 · P.L. 498 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  15. Authorizing the Auditor General to open and re-settle the Accounts of James Mitchell, late Treasurer of Lawrence county.

    Act 493 of 1859 · P.L. 499 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  16. To declare Johnson's Run, in Fox township, Elk county, a Prtblic

    Act 495 of 1859 · P.L. 500 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  17. Appointing Commissioners to lay out and open a State Road in the counties of Potter and

    Act 496 of 1859 · P.L. 501 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  18. Supplement to an act to incorporate the "Watsontown Bridge Company, approved the ninth day of May, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fiftyfour.

    Act 497 of 1859 · P.L. 502 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  19. Supplement to the act consolidating the city of Philadelphia, so far as relates to Assessors of the Nineteenth and Twenty-first wards.

    Act 498 of 1859 · P.L. 503 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  20. Authorizing the School Directors of the borough of Aubura, in the eouoty of Schuylkill, to borrow money.

    Act 499 of 1859 · P.L. 504 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  21. Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to erect the town of Lebanon, in the county of Lebanon, into a borough," approved February twentieth^ A. D. eighteen hundred and twenty-one.

    Act 500 of 1859 · P.L. 505 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  22. Declaring Tombs Run a Public Highway.

    Act 501 of 1859 · P.L. 506 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  23. Supplement to an act relating to the Fees of Aldermen, Justices of the Peace and Constables, in and for the city of Pittsburg, and counties of Washington and Lancaster.

    Act 502 of 1859 · P.L. 507 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  24. Authorizing the Manayunk Gas Company to Consolidate its Stock.

    Act 503 of 1859 · P.L. 507 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  25. To amend the Road Laws and change the manner of Appraising Damage, in the opening of Public and Private Roads, in the counties of Adaui8 and Perry.

    Act 50 of 1859 · P.L. 508 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  26. Relating to the Collection of Taxes on Unseated Lands in the borough of New Brighton, Beaver county.

    Act 504 of 1859 · P.L. 508 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  27. Helating to the Election of OfScers of the Wyoming Canal Company.

    Act 506 of 1859 · P.L. 509 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  28. To liquidate the amount due on a certain judgment, and to enforce the coilection of the same.

    Act 507 of 1859 · P.L. 510 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  29. To lay out a State Road in Aimstrong and Clarion counties.

    Act 508 of 1859 · P.L. 510 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  30. Supplement to the act incorporating the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.

    Act 509 of 1859 · P.L. 512 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  31. Supplement to an act to incorporate the Newry Railroad Company, approved the fifteenth day of March^ one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.

    Act 511 of 1859 · P.L. 513 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  32. Supplement to the act to incorporate the Erie City Hall Association, approved the second day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fiftytwo.

    Act 512 of 1859 · P.L. 514 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  33. Supplement to the act for incorporating the Lehigh and Delaware Plank Road Company.

    Act 513 of 1859 · P.L. 514 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  34. To incorporate the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Annvilie, Lebanon county. Sectio.v 1.

    Act 514 of 1859 · P.L. 515 · 1859 · Scanned page

  35. To incorporate the Kylertown, Morrisdale and Fhilipsburg Plank Road Company.

    Act 515 of 1859 · P.L. 519 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  36. Regulating the Fees of Aldermen, Justices of the Peace and Constables relative to Poor and Indigent Persons in Lancaster county.

    Act 516 of 1859 · P.L. 520 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  37. To incorporate the Philomathean Institute of Union township, Berks county.

    Act 517 of 1859 · P.L. 521 · April 5, 1859 · Scanned page

  38. To incorporate the Hydropathic College and Institute of Loretto.

    Act 518 of 1859 · P.L. 523 · April 9, 1859 · Scanned page

  39. Supplement to the act incorporating the Catawissa and Toifanda Railroad Company.

    Act 519 of 1859 · P.L. 525 · March 31, 1859 · Scanned page

  40. Relative to the List of Assessments in Cambria county.

    Act 520 of 1859 · P.L. 526 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  41. Supplement to an act incorporating the Susquehanna Railroad Company, approred the ninth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirtythree.

    Act 521 of 1859 · P.L. 527 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  42. Relating to Costs in certain cases.

    Act 522 of 1859 · P.L. 528 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  43. To equalize Taxation upon Corporations.

    Act 523 of 1859 · P.L. 529 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  44. For the Assessment and Recovery of Damages upon the North BranclL» and Wyoming Canals.

    Act 525 of 1859 · P.L. 530 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  45. For the relief of the estate of James Rogers, deceased.

    Act 527 of 1859 · P.L. 534 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  46. Authorizing the Auditor's of Forest county to re-audit the State Account of William R. Coon and John D. Hunt, late Treasurers of said county.

    Act 528 of 1859 · P.L. 535 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  47. Supplement to an act to encourage the Manufacture of Iron with Coke or Mineral CoaJ^ and fur other purposes, passed the sixteenth June, Anno Domini onethousand eight hundred and thirtysix.

    Act 529 of 1859 · P.L. 536 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  48. To Restrict Sales by Auction in the counties of Northampton, Dauphin and Lehigh.,

    Act 530 of 1859 · P.L. 537 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  49. To correct a Clerical Error in an act, entitled " An Act to incorporate the Trustees of the Young Men's Christian Association Building of Philadelphia," approved the eighteenth of February, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.

    Act 531 of 1859 · P.L. 538 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  50. Authorizing the Sheriff of Philadelphia county to sell certain real estat* in lots, parcels or sub-divisions.

    Act 532 of 1859 · P.L. 538 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  51. To authorize the Auditors of Sullivan county to re-audit the Accounts of James Taylor, late Treasurer of said county, with the Commonwealth.

    Act 533 of 1859 · P.L. 539 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  52. To incorporate the National Ait Association.

    Act 534 of 1859 · P.L. 540 · April 9, 1859 · Scanned page

  53. Supplement to an act to iocorponite the city of Carbondale, passed March fifteenth, one thousand t-ight huudrod iiad Iifty-one. Sectio>; 1.

    Act 535 of 1859 · P.L. 541 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  54. Supplement to the act incorporating the city of Philadelphia.

    Act 536 of 1859 · P.L. 543 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  55. To provide for the Ordinary Expenses of the Government, and other General and Special Appropriations.

    Act 538 of 1859 · P.L. 548 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  56. To authorize the appointment of an additional Notary Public in the county of Erie.

    Act 539 of 1859 · P.L. 555 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  57. For the relief of the sureties of William Wilson, Junior, late Collector of Tolls at Northumberland.

    Act 540 of 1859 · P.L. 556 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  58. Authorizing the State Treasurer to pay to the Towanda Bridge Company a balance remaining in the Treasury due them in pursuance of a contract made with the Board of Canal Commissioners, July twelfth, one thousand eight hundred and lifty-six.

    Act 541 of 1859 · P.L. 556 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  59. Declaring the Portage Branch of the Sinnemahoning creek, in the counties of M'Kean and Potter, a Public Highway.

    Act 542 of 1859 · P.L. 558 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  60. Supplement to an act to incorporate the Second and Third Street Passenger Railway Company of Philadelphia.

    Act 543 of 1859 · P.L. 558 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  61. Amend the Fee Bill of the Orphfins' Court of the county of Allegheny.

    Act 544 of 1859 · P.L. 559 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  62. Relating to the Settlements of Registers of "Wills, Recorders of Deeds, Prothonotaries and Clerks of Courts, -with the State Treasurer.

    Act 546 of 1859 · P.L. 561 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  63. Allowing the Treasurer of Beaver county a credit for certain balances of Militia Fines collected and by him paid bona fide to the Uniformed Militia, for duty done according to law.

    Act 547 of 1859 · P.L. 561 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  64. Supplement to the act incorporating the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Sinking Springs, Berks county.

    Act 548 of 1859 · P.L. 562 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  65. To incorporate the Valley Forge Military Academy.,

    Act 549 of 1859 · P.L. 563 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  66. To authorize the Managers of the Indiana and Ebensburg Turnpike to collect tolls for certain purposes.

    Act 550 of 1859 · P.L. 565 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  67. Supplement to an act incorporating the Quarryville and Unicorn Turnpike Road Conapany.

    Act 552 of 1859 · P.L. 567 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  68. To equalize Taxation in the borough of "Washington.

    Act 553 of 1859 · P.L. 567 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  69. For the relief of R. J.

    Act 555 of 1859 · P.L. 569 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  70. Supplement to an act authorizing the Commissioners of Clarion county to erect a new Court House, and approved the eighteenth day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.

    Act 556 of 1859 · P.L. 569 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  71. Supplement to an act to incorporate the Bedford Mineral Spring Association, approved March seventeenth, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.

    Act 557 of 1859 · P.L. 570 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  72. To allow the Government of the United States to hold certain Real Estate in the city of Philadelphia.

    Act 558 of 1859 · P.L. 570 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  73. Authorizing the State Treasurer to pay Nathaniel White for damages sustained by him from the Commonwealth.

    Act 559 of 1859 · P.L. 571 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  74. Changing the place of holding elections in West Manheim township, York county.

    Act 560 of 1859 · P.L. 572 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  75. To repeal an act for the better Preservation of Game and Insectiverous Birds, so far as the same relates to the counties of Fayette, Westmoreland and Greene.

    Act 561 of 1859 · P.L. 573 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  76. Supplement to the act incorporating the Saucona Iron Company, approved the eighth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and fitty-seven.

    Act 562 of 1859 · P.L. 573 · March 31, 1859 · Scanned page

  77. To authorize the State Treasurer to pay S. C. "Williamson for loss sustained in consequence of a collision on the Columbia and riiihidelphia Railroad.

    Act 563 of 1859 · P.L. 574 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  78. Authorizing the Payment of the Claim of Andrew Wise, of Huntingdon county.

    Act 564 of 1859 · P.L. 575 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  79. To receive subscriptions to capital stock. Powers and privilege?:. Repeal. When logo into effect. To the act to incorporate the Trenton City Bridge Company,

    Act 565 of 1859 · P.L. 576 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  80. Supplement to an act to incorporate the town of Ashland, partly in Schuylkill and partly in Columbia counties, into a borough, approved the thirteenth day of February, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.

    Act 567 of 1859 · P.L. 577 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  81. Relative to Weighing Coal in the city of Allegheny.

    Act 568 of 1859 · P.L. 578 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  82. To provide for the Erection of a House for the Employment and SupporJ of the Poor in the count}' of Greene.

    Act 570 of 1859 · P.L. 580 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  83. To incorporate the Franklin High School and Normal Institute Association of the borough of Martinsburg, in the county of Blair.

    Act 571 of 1859 · P.L. 586 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  84. Supplement to an act to incorporate the Protestant Episcopal Society for the promotion of Evangelical Knowledge, passed March eight, one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.

    Act 572 of 1859 · P.L. 587 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  85. Relating to the time of holding the Courts in Greene county.

    Act 573 of 1859 · P.L. 588 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  86. Authorizing the corporation of St. Paul's Church, Erie, to. sell Real Estate.

    Act 574 of 1859 · P.L. 589 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  87. Fixing the Place of Holding Elections in South Buffalo township, Armstrong county.

    Act 575 of 1859 · P.L. 590 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  88. Supplement to the act authorizing Henry Wilton to construct a Dam or Breakwater in the river Susquehanna, dated April third, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and

    Act 576 of 1859 · P.L. 591 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  89. In reference to the Commissions of Justices of the Peace and Aldermen.

    Act 577 of 1859 · P.L. 592 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  90. To authorize the Supervisors of certain townships in Lancaster county to pay a portion of the cost of erecting County Bridges.

    Act 578 of 1859 · P.L. 592 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  91. Requiring the Supervisors in the different townships in Cumberland county, to keep the Wing Walls and Embankments of said County Bridges in Repair.,

    Act 579 of 1859 · P.L. 593 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  92. Repealing an act approved the fifth May, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, authorizing the extension of Walnut Street, in the borough of Blairsville, Indiana county.

    Act 580 of 1859 · P.L. 594 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  93. Requiring the Sheriff of Cumberland county to compel all persons committed to the Jail of said county, for Vagrancy, to work.

    Act 581 of 1859 · P.L. 595 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  94. Supplement to the act, entitled " An Act establishing a mode of selecting and drawing Jurors in and for the city of Philadelphia.

    Act 582 of 1859 · P.L. 595 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  95. To confer on Joseph B. Chrechfield, of Somerset connty, all the Rights and Privileges of a Child born in Lawful Wedlock.

    Act 583 of 1859 · P.L. 596 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  96. Relative to Unadjusted Claims against the Commonwealth.

    Act 584 of 1859 · P.L. 597 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  97. To increase the Fees of Jurors in the Rural Districts of the city of

    Act 586 of 1859 · P.L. 598 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  98. Relative to the city of Pittsburg.

    Act 5 of 1859 · P.L. 599 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  99. the acts limiting Actions against Real Estate.

    Act of 1859 · P.L. 603 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  100. Relating to Executors, Administrators and Guardians.

    Act of 1859 · P.L. 604 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

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.