Jenkins On Your Desktop: Pennsylvania Legislative Histories Collection

Interested in the legislative intent of Pennsylvania enacted laws? Jenkins Law Library’s collection of nearly 1400 Pennsylvania legislative histories may be able to help. The Jenkins librarians have used the Pennsylvania Legislative Journals to find the remarks and debates associated with select legislative bills enacted in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.  These remarks and debate are instrumental in determining legislative intent in Pennsylvania. Using legislative histories is one of the main ways to research the legislative intent of an act.  The library’s collection of Pennsylvania Legislative Journals dates back to the late 1800s

Can’t find the legislative history you’re looking for? You can use our “Pennsylvania Legislative History Resource Guide” to help compile your own. Our Pennsylvania Legislative Journals that contain remarks and debates starting in the late 1800s. Compiling your own history at your desk is easier now that the General Assembly has posted Senate Journals starting in 1977 and House Journals starting in 1961. No time to compile your own?  The Jenkins Librarians will compile legislative histories for our members at our normal research and document delivery fees.

If you need help, call the research department at 215.574.1505, email research@jenkinslaw.org or chat with us.