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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

5,365 laws of the 1870s

Constitution of 1838

  1. To incorporate the Real Estate Savings Bank of Harriaburg.

    Act 1159 of 1873 · P.L. 1119 · 1873 · Scanned page

  2. Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Cook's Run Navigation and Public Road Company," approved the seventh day of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.

    Act 1160 of 1873 · P.L. 1121 · 1873 · Scanned page

  3. Supplement to an act to regulate the taking of fish from the ponds and lakes of Benton township, Luzerne county, approved March second, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.

    Act 1161 of 1873 · P.L. 1122 · January 4, 1873 · Scanned page

  4. To provide for the ordinary expenses of the government and other gen- ~y eral and specific appropriations for the year Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.

    Act of 1873 · April 4, 1873 · Scanned page

  5. To fix the salary of the Governor of this Commonwealth.

    Act 1 of 1873 · January 15, 1873 · Scanned page

  6. Authorizing an additional appropriation for sending soldiers' orphans to normal schools.

    Resolution 2 of 1873 · P.L. 892 · February 12, 1873 · Scanned page

  7. For an allowance to the parties in the contested election case from the Fourth senatorial district, for extraordinary expenses.

    Resolution of 1873 · P.L. 1124 · 1873 · Scanned page

  8. To pay expenses in the case of George 0.

    Resolution 1 of 1873 · P.L. 1124 · 1873 · Scanned page

  9. Supplement to the act regulating elections in this Common-wealth.

    Act 1 of 1874 · P.L. 31 · February 12, 1874 · Scanned page

  10. Declaratory of and amending the act, entitled "A further supplement to the act regulating elections in tliis commonwealth," ap- Ijroved the thirtieth day of January, Anno Domini one thousand eight liundrod and seventy-four.

    Act of 1874 · P.L. 44 · 1874 · Scanned page

  11. Relative to vacancies in the office of prothonotary or clerk of tlie several courts and in the office of register or recorder.

    Act 2 of 1874 · P.L. 44 · February 12, 1874 · Scanned page

  12. To carry out the provisions of section twelve, article three, of the ooustitution relative to contracts forsupiilies for the legislature and the various departments of the state government.

    Act 5 of 1874 · P.L. 45 · March 24, 1874 · Scanned page

  13. provide for the payment of the expenses of advertising the new constitution.

    Act 8 of 1874 · P.L. 48 · April 1, 1874 · Scanned page

  14. Providing for the election of lieutenant governor and fixing his salary.

    Act 7 of 1874 · P.L. 49 · March 27, 1874 · Scanned page

  15. AK ACT Making an appropriation for the salaries of the officers and for repairs to the buildings of the Eastern penitentiary.

    Act 10 of 1874 · P.L. 49 · April 1, 1874 · Scanned page

  16. To authorize married women owning loans of this commonwealth, or of the city of Philadelphia, or capital stock of any corporation of thin commonwealth, to sell and transfer the same.

    Act 9 of 1874 · P.L. 50 · 1874 · Scanned page

  17. To validate acts done by corporations created by tlie courts befoi-e the recording of their charters.

    Act 13 of 1874 · P.L. 51 · April 1, 1874 · Scanned page

  18. Malviug an api>ropriation to complete tlie building of the Sheltering Arms, Allegheny county.

    Act 14 of 1874 · P.L. 51 · April 6, 1874 · Scanned page

  19. Making an appropriation for the support of the House of Refuge in

    Act of 1874 · P.L. 52 · April 6, 1874 · Scanned page

  20. Making an appropriation to the Industrial Home for Blind Women at Philadelphia.

    Act 15 of 1874 · P.L. 52 · 1874 · Scanned page

  21. Making an appropriation for the support of the Pennsylvania Reform School, and to aid in the erection of new buildings.

    Act of 1874 · P.L. 53 · April 6, 1874 · Scanned page

  22. Making an appropriation for the support of the House of RefVige in Philadelphia.

    Act 16 of 1874 · P.L. 53 · 1874 · Scanned page

  23. Granting an appropriation for the support of the Home for Deaf Mutes, Pittsburg.

    Act 18 of 1874 · P.L. 53 · April 6, 1874 · Scanned page

  24. Designating the judicial districts of the commonwealth, and providing for the appointment and election of judges therein, for issuing to additional judgeslearned in the law commissions as president judges, and manner of fixing the terms of courts therein.

    Act of 1874 · P.L. 54 · 1874 · Scanned page

  25. Deugnating the Judicial diatdcts of the commonwealth, and pn)vidiDg for the appointment and election of judges therein, for issuing to additional Judges learned in the law commissions as president Judges, and manner of fixing the terms of courts therein.

    Act 20 of 1874 · P.L. 55 · April 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  26. To provide for the current expenses of the Board of Public Charities.

    Act 22 of 1874 · P.L. 59 · 1874 · Scanned page

  27. Supplement to an act, approved first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, entitled "An Act to amend and consolidate the several acts relating to game and game fish," changing the time during which squirrels may be killed.

    Act 24 of 1874 · P.L. 60 · 1874 · Scanned page

  28. To provide for the manner of increasing the capital stock and indebtedness of corporations.

    Act 25 of 1874 · P.L. 61 · April 18, 1874 · Scanned page

  29. Making an appropriation to the Philadelphia Society for alleviating the miseries of public prisons.

    Act 21 of 1874 · P.L. 63 · April 18, 1874 · Scanned page

  30. Supplement to an act relating to count^'treasurers, passed April fifteenth, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four.

    Act 26 of 1874 · P.L. 63 · April 18, 1874 · Scanned page

  31. Relating to affidavits of

    Act 28 of 1874 · P.L. 64 · April 18, 1874 · Scanned page

  32. To define the necessary and proper expenses incident to the nomination and election of senators, representatives, state, judicial, municipal and county officers, and to authorize the payment thereof. Candidates for

    Act 29 of 1874 · P.L. 64 · April 18, 1874 · Scanned page

  33. To provide for the incorporation and regulation of certain corporations.

    Act 32 of 1874 · P.L. 73 · April 29, 1874 · Scanned page

  34. To prohibit foreign corporations from doing business in Pennsylvania, without having known places of business and authorized agents.

    Act 33 of 1874 · P.L. 108 · April 22, 1874 · Scanned page

  35. Authorizing the purchase of ground for and the construction of a * '' state arsonal, and also for the abandonment of the state ai-senal now located on the capital grounds. iMn base of land

    Act 34 of 1874 · P.L. 108 · April 22, 1874 · Scanned page

  36. To provide for the submission of civil cases to the decision of the court, and to dispense with trial by jury.

    Act 35 of 1874 · P.L. 109 · April 22, 1874 · Scanned page

  37. To enable the officers of dissolved corporations to convey real estate held by such corporations.

    Act 36 of 1874 · P.L. 110 · April 20, 1874 · Scanned page

  38. Making appropriations for the support of the Pennsylvania Institution for the deaf and dumb, and for repairing, building and curbing and pavingrequired by city ordinance.

    Act 37 of 1874 · P.L. 111 · April 24, 1874 · Scanned page

  39. Making appropriations for the support of the Pennsylvania Institution for tlie instruction of the blind, and for deficiency in erection and furnishing new extension.

    Act 38 of 1874 · P.L. 111 · April 24, 1874 · Scanned page

  40. Making an appropriation for the support of the Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble-Minded Children at Media.

    Act 39 of 1874 · P.L. 112 · April 24, 1874 · Scanned page

  41. To authorize and require the auditors to publish an annual statement of the receipts and expenditures of road commissioners, supervisors, overseers of tlae poor, and school directors of the several townships and boroughs within this commonwealth, and to designate a day to audit, settle and adjust township and borough accounts.

    Act 40 of 1874 · P.L. 112 · April 24, 1874 · Scanned page

  42. Making appropriations for the salaries of the officers and for repairs to the Western Penitentiary.

    Act 41 of 1874 · P.L. 113 · April 27, 1874 · Scanned page

  43. AX ACT To make appropriations for the Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital at Harrisburg.

    Act 42 of 1874 · P.L. 114 · April 27, 1874 · Scanned page

  44. To provide for the publication of the ninth volume of the transactions of the State Agricultural Society.

    Act 43 of 1874 · P.L. 114 · April 29, 1874 · Scanned page

  45. To provide for the payment of canvassers appointed by the commissioners of election in the city of Philadelphia.

    Act 45 of 1874 · P.L. 115 · April 29, 1874 · Scanned page

  46. To provide for the imprisonment of persons where sentences shall be commuted by the governor.

    Act 46 of 1874 · P.L. 116 · April 29, 1874 · Scanned page

  47. For the abandonment and discontinuance of the use and possession of the state powder magazine in the city of Philadelphia, and authorizing and empowering the sale of the property purchased for the erection of another magazine.

    Act 47 of 1874 · P.L. 116 · April 29, 1874 · Scanned page

  48. To provide for an appropriation to the State Hospital for the Insane at Warren.

    Act 48 of 1874 · P.L. 117 · 1874 · Scanned page

  49. Fixing the time when the term of office of judges of the supreine court and other judges learned in the law shall commence.

    Act 49 of 1874 · P.L. 118 · April 30, 1874 · Scanned page

  50. To authorize the governor of this commonwealth to fill vacancies in the office of alderman and justice of tlie peace by appointment.

    Act 50 of 1874 · P.L. 118 · 1874 · Scanned page

  51. Lb the act to create a board of pablic oharitlos, approved the twentyfourth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, authorizing and empowering said board to appoint * viiritors, and to transfer certain Insane persons from county Institutions to state hospitals.

    Act 61 of 1874 · P.L. 118 · May 8, 1874 · Scanned page

  52. Supplement to the act to create a board of public charities, approved the twentyfourth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, authorizing and empowering said board to appoint visitors, and to transfer certain insane persons from county institutions to state hospitals.

    Act 51 of 1874 · P.L. 119 · 1874 · Scanned page

  53. To divide the Eiglith normal school district.

    Act 52 of 1874 · P.L. 120 · May 8, 1874 · Scanned page

  54. Supplement to an act for the better protection of the wages of mechanics, miners, laborers and others, approved the ninth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.

    Act 53 of 1874 · P.L. 120 · May 6, 1874 · Scanned page

  55. Relating to the transportation of explosive or dangerous material.

    Act 54 of 1874 · P.L. 120 · May 8, 1874 · Scanned page

  56. Limiting the time within which inquisitions of lunacy or habitual drunkenness may be traversed.

    Act 55 of 1874 · P.L. 122 · May 8, 1874 · Scanned page

  57. To validate the action of officers selecting and drawing jurors.

    Act 56 of 1874 · P.L. 122 · May 8, 1874 · Scanned page

  58. Tb provide for the coUeotlon of debts against non-resident debtors.

    Act 67 of 1874 · P.L. 122 · May 6, 1874 · Scanned page

  59. To provide for the collection of debts against non-resident

    Act 57 of 1874 · P.L. 123 · May 8, 1874 · Scanned page

  60. To regulate the manner of advertising for the state, and the issuing of warrants therefor.

    Act 58 of 1874 · P.L. 124 · May 6, 1874 · Scanned page

  61. Regulating state tax on certain county offices.

    Act 59 of 1874 · P.L. 125 · May 6, 1874 · Scanned page

  62. Supplementary to the several acts relating to the state treasurer and to the commissioners of the sinking fund.

    Act 60 of 1874 · P.L. 126 · 1874 · Scanned page

  63. To authorize courts to confirm titles of parties to real estate sold or conveyed by trustees of married women without leave of court.

    Act 62 of 1874 · P.L. 131 · 1874 · Scanned page

  64. Relating to paymeut of costs in cases of felony.

    Act 63 of 1874 · P.L. 132 · 1874 · Scanned page

  65. Relating to the validity of the charters of certain incorporations.

    Act 64 of 1874 · P.L. 133 · May 11, 1874 · Scanned page

  66. To make an appropriation to the Lackawanna Hospital of the city of

    Act 65 of 1874 · P.L. 133 · May 11, 1874 · Scanned page

  67. To appropriate tbesum of five thousand dollars to the Wilkes Barre City Hospital.

    Act 66 of 1874 · P.L. 133 · May 11, 1874 · Scanned page

  68. To appropriate the sum of five thousand dollars to the Wilkes Rirre City

    Act of 1874 · P.L. 134 · May 11, 1874 · Scanned page

  69. To recognize Lincoln University, located in Chester county, as an additional state normal school.

    Act of 1874 · P.L. 134 · May 11, 1874 · Scanned page

  70. Fixing the liability of stookkiolden of banks and banking oompanlea. and other banking inatitutiond in this commonwealth.

    Act 68 of 1874 · P.L. 134 · May 11, 1874 · Scanned page

  71. Regulating the election of secretary of internal affairs, defining his duties and fixing his salary.

    Act of 1874 · P.L. 135 · May 11, 1874 · Scanned page

  72. Providing for the publication of the minutes of the board of war and navy board of the state of Pennsylvania, and other original papers in the. office of the secretary of the commonwealth heretofore

    Act 70 of 1874 · P.L. 137 · May 13, 1874 · Scanned page

  73. Fixing tiie p>iy of road commissioners, road and bridge viewers and reviewers, and appointed comniissionera to run township lines and to divide boroughs into wards, and township division lines, and surveyors in this commonwealtli.

    Act of 1874 · P.L. 138 · May 13, 1874 · Scanned page

  74. make appropriations for pei^ions and gratuities.

    Act 72 of 1874 · P.L. 138 · 1874 · Scanned page

  75. To make appropriations for pensions and gratuities.

    Act 12 of 1874 · P.L. 139 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  76. To authorize the secretary of the commonwealth and depxity secretary of tlie commonwealth to administer oaths or affirmations.

    Act 73 of 1874 · P.L. 139 · 1874 · Scanned page

  77. To provide for the transfer of the business and records of certain courts abolished by the constitution, and repealing the acts creating the same.

    Act 74 of 1874 · P.L. 139 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  78. Making an appropriation to the Allegheny county society for alleviating the miseries of public prisons.

    Act of 1874 · P.L. 142 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  79. Kegulating the appointment and pay of fish wardens or water bailiffs. rower to apiioint

    Act 75 of 1874 · P.L. 142 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  80. To the sapplement to the militia act, approved April fifteen, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seyenty-three, providin'g for the payment of actual expenses of artillery oompanies.

    Act 77 of 1874 · P.L. 142 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  81. To the supplement to the militia act, approved April tifteen, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, providing for the payment of actual expenses of artillery companies.

    Act 11 of 1874 · P.L. 143 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  82. Supplement to the act approved May fourth. Anno Domini one thousand eight huiidred and sixty-four, entitled "An Act for the organization, discipline and regulation of the militia of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

    Act 78 of 1874 · P.L. 143 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  83. In relation to suits for "■ages, preventing staj" of execution on judgments obtained for one hundred dolkirs or less.

    Act 79 of 1874 · P.L. 145 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  84. To grant the consent of the state of Pennsylvania to the acquisition of certain lands by the United States, for the purpose of erecting additional light hoiises to aid the navigation of the river Delaware.

    Act 80 of 1874 · P.L. 145 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  85. Relative to service of proeesa upon the stockholders of corporationi^ in actions brought to charge the stools holders for debts of the cor-. ponition, or for unpaid instalments upon their stock.

    Act 81 of 1874 · P.L. 145 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  86. Authorizing state treasurer to pay the necessary expenses incident to the calling out of the National Guard to assist the civil authorities in suppressing the recent riot in Susquehanna county.

    Act 82 of 1874 · P.L. 147 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  87. Supplement to the act, entitled **An Act to provide for a permanent centennial exposition building for tlie people of the commonwealth in the civ of Pliiladelphia," approved (he twentynseventh day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.

    Act 83 of 1874 · P.L. 147 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  88. Providing for the construction of fish-ways and the propagation and protection of fish, and appropriating moneys therefor. Sectiox 1.

    Act 84 of 1874 · P.L. 149 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  89. To fix the salaries of the several state oflflcers of this commonwealth, the number of clerks to be employed in the several departments, and their compensation, and providing for the incidental expenses of said dei)artmente. feiiaries of state

    Act 85 of 1874 · P.L. 150 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  90. To repeal and amend so much of an act, entitled "An Act to amend and consolidate the several acts relating to game and game fish," approved May first, one thonsand eight hundred and seventythree, as relates to Wilson or gray snipe and woodcock.

    Act 86 of 1874 · P.L. 154 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  91. Authorizing the county commissioners to sell at public sale any part of any lands reserved for public buildings when the same is not needed therefor.

    Act 87 of 1874 · P.L. 154 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  92. Making an appropriation for state normal schools.

    Act 88 of 1874 · P.L. 155 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  93. To authorize the collection of poor tax from unseated lands.

    Act 89 of 1874 · P.L. 155 · 1874 · Scanned page

  94. Supplement to an act relati%'e to suits in dowerand partition, approved the twentieth day of February, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and Afty-four, and its supplement, approved the thirtieth day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, oonstruiug said act and extending J urisdiction of the courts

    Act 90 of 1874 · P.L. 155 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  95. Td define the liability of sareties upon written instrtifhents for the pay ment of money.

    Act 91 of 1874 · P.L. 156 · 1874 · Scanned page

  96. To create a commission to prepare amendmetits to the constitution of. this commonwealth.

    Act 92 of 1874 · P.L. 157 · 1874 · Scanned page

  97. Relating to the transfer of the personal estate of married women.

    Act 93 of 1874 · P.L. 158 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  98. To exempt from taxation public property used for public purposes, and places of religious worship, places of burial not used or held for private or corporate profit, and institutions of purely public

    Act 94 of 1874 · P.L. 158 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  99. to compulsory arbitrations.

    Act 95 of 1874 · P.L. 159 · May 14, 1874 · Scanned page

  100. To i>rescribe the manner bj'^ which the courts may divide boroughs into wards.

    Act 96 of 1874 · P.L. 159 · May 14, 1874 · 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.