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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. Relating to Partitions in Courts having Equity Jarisdiction in the county of Allegheny.

    Act of 1859 · P.L. 605 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  2. Supplement to an act incorporating the Quakertown and Spinnerstown Turnpike Road Company.

    Act 594 of 1859 · P.L. 606 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  3. Relating to the Fees of County Surveyors.

    Act 595 of 1859 · P.L. 606 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  4. Relative to Sureties of County Treasurers.

    Act 596 of 1859 · P.L. 607 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  5. For the relief of Rachel Robison, widow of an old soldier of the Revolution.

    Act 597 of 1859 · P.L. 608 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  6. To incorporate the Allen Mutual Insurance Company.

    Act 598 of 1859 · P.L. 609 · March 3, 1859 · Scanned page

  7. For the relief of Elizabeth Roberts, a widow of a soldier in the Indian war of one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, till one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two.

    Act 599 of 1859 · P.L. 609 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  8. To regulate the Standard Weight of Oats.

    Act 600 of 1859 · P.L. 610 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  9. Relating to Testamentary Trustees.

    Act 601 of 1859 · P.L. 611 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  10. Authorizing Yice Presidents of Banks to receive Salaries for their services.

    Act 604 of 1859 · P.L. 613 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  11. For the repeal of so much of the second section of the act passed the thirteenth day of Ma}', one thousand eight hundred and fifty, as relates to the Glen Hope and Little Bald Eagle Turnpike Company.

    Act 605 of 1859 · P.L. 614 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  12. For the better Regulation of Billiard Rooms, Bowling Saloons and Ten-pin Alleys, in the counties of Chester and Delaware.

    Act 606 of 1859 · P.L. 614 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  13. For the relief of the Somerset Borough School District, in Somerset county.

    Act 607 of 1859 · P.L. 615 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  14. In relation to the Towanda and Burlington Plank Road Conapany.

    Act 608 of 1859 · P.L. 616 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  15. Relative to the Election of District Attorneys.

    Act 609 of 1859 · P.L. 617 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  16. Supplement to an act relating to a Burial Ground and School Lot in the borough of Pottsville.

    Act 610 of 1859 · P.L. 617 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  17. To incorporate the Delaware Avenue Market Company, of the city of Philadelphia.

    Act 611 of 1859 · P.L. 618 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  18. Relative to the Wicacoe and Moyamensing Meadow Company.

    Act 612 of 1859 · P.L. 621 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  19. To incorporate the Jacksonville and Virginia State Line Clay or Turnpike Road Company.

    Act 613 of 1859 · P.L. 622 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  20. Fixing the place for holding the General and Township Elections in Lycoming township, Lycoming county.

    Act 614 of 1859 · P.L. 623 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  21. To fix the place of holding Elections in Union township, Union county, and to legalize an election held in said township. Section. 1.

    Act 615 of 1859 · P.L. 623 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  22. For the Reformation and Employment of Vagrants, Drunkards, and other Disorderly Persons, in the county of Allegheny.

    Act 616 of 1859 · P.L. 624 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  23. to the Claim of Jackson Fee.

    Act 617 of 1859 · P.L. 628 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  24. Authorizing the Board of School Directors of the borough of Uniontown, in Fayette county, to Borrow Money.

    Act 618 of 1859 · P.L. 629 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  25. To incorporate the Byberry and Andalusia Turnpike Road Company.

    Act 619 of 1859 · P.L. 630 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  26. To authorize the Town Council of the borough of Chambersburg to increase the Rate of Tax.

    Act 620 of 1859 · P.L. 630 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  27. To confer on Edward E. Lutz the Rights of a Child born in Lawful Wedlock.

    Act 622 of 1859 · P.L. 632 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  28. To confer on Horace G. Lutz the Rights of a Child born in Lawful Wedlock.

    Act 623 of 1859 · P.L. 632 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  29. To authorize the State Treasurer to pay Robert Young for loss sustained by fire on the line of the Columbia and Philadelphia Railroad.

    Act 624 of 1859 · P.L. 633 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  30. To abolish the office of Sealer of Weights and Measures in certain counties of this Commonwealth.

    Act 625 of 1859 · P.L. 633 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  31. To authorize the State Treasurer to pay Messrs. A. K. and A. L. Witmer, for Loss sustained in consequence of a Collision on the Columbia and Philadelphia Railroad.

    Act 626 of 1859 · P.L. 634 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  32. Entitled "An Act to authorize the borough of Mechanicsburg, in the county of Cumberland, to borrow money.

    Act 627 of 1859 · P.L. 635 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  33. Supplement to an act to Consolidate and Amend the Road Laws of the counties of Tioga, Potter, M'Kean and EHi, approved the fourteenth day of April, A. D.

    Act 628 of 1859 · P.L. 636 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  34. Supplement to the act incorporating the Tuckahoe and Mount Pleasant Plank Road Company.

    Act 629 of 1859 · P.L. 636 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  35. Supplement to an act supplementary to the act to incorporate the St. Paul's Church, and further purposes, approved March thirty-flrst, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven.

    Act 630 of 1859 · P.L. 637 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  36. To authorise the Payment of the Claim of John ft'. Geary and Israel Painter.

    Act of 1859 · P.L. 638 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  37. Supplement to the act to iucorporate the Exchange Mutual Insurance Company, a]iproved sixteenth March, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.

    Act 633 of 1859 · P.L. 639 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  38. To authorize the Auditor General and State Treasurer to re-examine the account between the Commonwealth and the President, Managers and Company of the Bustlcton and Feasterville Turnpike Road Company.

    Act 635 of 1859 · P.L. 640 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  39. For the relief of Catharine Keller, widow of Conrad Keller, a Soldier of the Kevolutionary War. Sectiox 1.

    Act 636 of 1859 · P.L. 641 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  40. Relative to Supervisors of Public Highways in Jenner township, Somerset, county.

    Act 637 of 1859 · P.L. 642 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  41. Relative to the Duties of the Port W^arden of

    Act 639 of 1859 · P.L. 643 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  42. Relative to the Vacatirxg of certain Streets in the city of Philadelphia.

    Act 640 of 1859 · P.L. 645 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  43. To prevent the Hunting of Deer with Dogs in certain counties of this Commonwealth.

    Act 641 of 1859 · P.L. 645 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  44. For the relief of Elizabeth Nicelj', widow of a soldier in the Indian wars of one thousand seven hundred and ninety, and one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five.

    Act 642 of 1859 · P.L. 646 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  45. Relating to Void

    Act 643 of 1859 · P.L. 647 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  46. To authorize the erection of a Lock-up House in the borough of Wellersburg, Somerset county.

    Act 644 of 1859 · P.L. 647 · 1859 · Scanned page

  47. Supplement to an act, entitled " An Act to incorporate the North Philadelphia Dank Road Company.

    Act 645 of 1859 · P.L. 648 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  48. To increase the Pay of the Supervisors of Schuylkill county.

    Act 647 of 1859 · P.L. 649 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  49. To authorize the State Treasurer to pay Thomas and Henry Burugardner for loss sustained in consequence of collision on the Columbia and Philadelphia Railroad.

    Act 648 of 1859 · P.L. 650 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  50. Supplement to the act incorporating the borough of "West Chester, and its several supplements, passed the third day of March, seventeen hundred and eightyeight.

    Act 649 of 1859 · P.L. 651 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  51. To establish a Ferry over the Allegheny river, at Freeport, in Westmoreland county.

    Act 650 of 1859 · P.L. 652 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  52. Extending tbe provisions of the fifteenth section of the act of April second,.one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Rosemont Cemetery Company; relative to Judicial Proceedings, Assessments and Jurors in Columbia and Montour; to a certain State Road; to the Bounty upon Fox Scalps in Luzerne county; to Hunting in certain counties, et cetera," to "Wyoming county.

    Act 651 of 1859 · P.L. 653 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  53. Relating to the granting of Licenses to Hotel, Inn, or Tavern Keepers.

    Act 652 of 1859 · P.L. 653 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  54. Supplement to an act for the better regulation of the Militia of this Commonwealthapproved the twenty-first day of April, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.

    Act 653 of 1859 · P.L. 654 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  55. For the relief of Margaret Coldwater, widow of Philip Coldwater, a soldier of the Revolutionary war.

    Act 654 of 1859 · P.L. 655 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  56. Supplement to an act to improve the Navigation of the Lehigh River in the counties of Monroe and Luzerne.

    Act 655 of 1859 · P.L. 655 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  57. Relative to the Claims of Roger C. Magill and Magill and Cross.

    Act 656 of 1859 · P.L. 656 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  58. Kelating to Ihe Widening of Virgin Alley, in tlie city of Pittsburg.

    Act 657 of 1859 · P.L. 657 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  59. To divide the township of Wilkesbarre, in the county of Luzerne, into two Wards.

    Act 658 of 1859 · P.L. 661 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  60. Supplement to an act to incorporate the City Bank of Philadelphia.

    Act 659 of 1859 · P.L. 662 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  61. Relative to the Claim of Burke and Gonder.

    Act of 1859 · P.L. 663 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  62. Authorizing the Auditor General to issue a certificate for the amount of the Claim due to Barbara Hileman's Estate.

    Act of 1859 · P.L. 664 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  63. In relation to the Election of Trustees, et cetera, of the Proprietors School Fundj in the township of Plains, Luzerne county.

    Act 662 of 1859 · P.L. 664 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  64. Requiring Supervisors of Roads and Overseers of the P.oor in the county, of Northumberland, to give Security.

    Act 663 of 1859 · P.L. 665 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  65. To authorize the Ministers, Trustees, Elders and Deacons of the German Reformed Congregation, in the city of Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania, to sell and convey certain Real Estate.

    Act 664 of 1859 · P.L. 666 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  66. To incorporate the Home and Foreign Bible Society of Western Pennsylvania.

    Act 665 of 1859 · P.L. 667 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  67. To authorize the investigation of the Claim for Damages of Dennis

    Act 666 of 1859 · P.L. 669 · April 15, 1859 · Scanned page

  68. Relative to a Ferry at or near Ulster, Bradford county.

    Act 667 of 1859 · P.L. 669 · April 15, 1859 · Scanned page

  69. To authorize the Butler House Hotel Company to change their corporate name, and for other purposes.

    Act 669 of 1859 · P.L. 671 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  70. Supplement to the act to iucorporate the Middle Coal Field Tunnel and Railroad Company, approved the eighth diy of May, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.,

    Act 670 of 1859 · P.L. 671 · April 15, 1859 · Scanned page

  71. Supplement to an act authorizing the Conrts of Common Pleas to Cliange the Name of Persons, approved the ninth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.

    Act 672 of 1859 · P.L. 673 · April 15, 1859 · Scanned page

  72. Supplement to an act to authorize the erection of a Poor House by the township of Jenkins, borough of Pittston and township of Pittston, in the county of Luzerne, approved May eighth, one thousand eight hundred and fiftyseven.

    Act 673 of 1859 · P.L. 673 · April 15, 1859 · Scanned page

  73. Relative to the Claim of Samuel

    Act 671 of 1859 · P.L. 674 · February 10, 1859 · Scanned page

  74. To incorporq-te the Union Association and Reading Room.

    Act 676 of 1859 · P.L. 677 · April 15, 1859 · Scanned page

  75. Authorizing the Pennsj-lvania Railroad Company to obtain a better supply,',; ', of Water lor the uses of their road.

    Act 680 of 1859 · P.L. 679 · April 15, 1859 · Scanned page

  76. Supplement to an act to provide for the due training of Teachers for the Common Schools of the State, passed on the twentieth of May, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.

    Act 681 of 1859 · P.L. 680 · April 15, 1859 · Scanned page

  77. Supplementary to an act incorporating the Six Penny Saving Fund of Philadelphia, approved the filth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.

    Act 682 of 1859 · P.L. 681 · April 18, 1859 · Scanned page

  78. Supplement to the act to incorporate the Spring Garden Saving Fund Society of Philadelphia, passed April fourteenth, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and tifty-one.

    Act 683 of 1859 · P.L. 682 · April 18, 1859 · Scanned page

  79. Supplement to an act to incorporate the Philadelphia Ice Company, and for other purposes.

    Act 684 of 1859 · P.L. 683 · April 18, 1859 · Scanned page

  80. To incorporate the Philadelphia and Foreign Steamship Company.

    Act 685 of 1859 · P.L. 684 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  81. To repeal an act, entitled -'An Act to incorporate the National Art Association," passed April seventh, one thousand eight hundred and fiftynine.

    Act 686 of 1859 · P.L. 684 · April 19, 1859 · Scanned page

  82. Supplement to an act incorporating the West Philadelphia Mutual Saving Fund and Trust Company, approved May twentieth, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.

    Act 687 of 1859 · P.L. 685 · April 19, 1859 · Scanned page

  83. To incorporate the South-Western Market Company.

    Act 688 of 1859 · P.L. 686 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  84. To incorporate the Fairview Cemetery Association, in Berks county.

    Act 689 of 1859 · P.L. 688 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  85. To incorporate the Montour Navigation Improvement Company.

    Act 691 of 1859 · P.L. 691 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  86. To incorporate the 3Ianayunk and Roxborough "Water Company.

    Act 692 of 1859 · P.L. 693 · April 9, 1859 · Scanned page

  87. To incorporate the Germantown Market Company of the city of Philadelphia.

    Act 693 of 1859 · P.L. 696 · April 9, 1859 · Scanned page

  88. To incorporate the Chester, LeipervUle and Darby Railway Company.

    Act 694 of 1859 · P.L. 697 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  89. To incorporate the borough of New

    Act of 1859 · P.L. 699 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  90. To incorporate the Pittsburg and East Liberty Passenger Railway Company.

    Act of 1859 · P.L. 700 · April 8, 1859 · Scanned page

  91. Supplement to an act to incorporate the Altoona Gas Company.

    Act 697 of 1859 · P.L. 705 · April 6, 1859 · Scanned page

  92. To incorporate the Port KenncMly Railroad Couipany of Montgomery couuty.

    Act 698 of 1859 · P.L. 706 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  93. to the.ict erecting the village of East Birmingham into a borough, ai)provcd the tenth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight liundred and forty-nine.

    Act 700 of 1859 · P.L. 708 · April 26, 1859 · Scanned page

  94. To incorporate the Seventeenth and Nineteenth Streets Passenger Railway Company of Fhiladelphia.

    Act 701 of 1859 · P.L. 711 · April 12, 1859 · Scanned page

  95. 'an ACT ■ To authorize the Trustees of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, of the borough of Middletown, in the county of Dauphin, to convey certain Real Estate.

    Act 702 of 1859 · P.L. 713 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  96. To incorporate the Turners Association.

    Act 703 of 1859 · P.L. 714 · April 13, 1859 · Scanned page

  97. To incorporate the Cameron House Hotel Company.

    Act 704 of 1859 · P.L. 716 · April 14, 1859 · Scanned page

  98. Supplement to an act relaling to Inspections, et cetera, passed the fifteenth clay of April, one thousand eiglit hundred and thirty-five, and the supplement thereto, approved the twenty-fifth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and fifty.,

    Act 705 of 1859 · P.L. 718 · 1859 · Scanned page

  99. To incorporate the City and County Insurance Company of the city of Allegheny.

    Act 708 of 1859 · P.L. 721 · April 11, 1859 · Scanned page

  100. To incorporate the Pottsville and Minersville Railroad Company.

    Act 709 of 1859 · P.L. 722 · May 7, 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.