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.
5,371 laws of the 1850s
Constitution of 1838
Act to authorize the Governor to incorporate a company to erect a bridge over the Allegheny river, at or near Sharpsburg, in Allegheny county - amend - construct an artificial road
Act 530 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To authorize the consolidation of the York and Maryland Line Railroad Company, the York and Cumberland Railroad Company, and the Susquehanna Railroad Company with each other and with the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad Company of the State of
Act 531 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Explanatory of an act to authorize the consolidation of the York and Maryland Line Railroad Company, the York and Cumberland Railroad Company, and the Susquehanna Railroad Company with each other, and with the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad
Act 532 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To authorize John Nepomucene Neuman, Bishop of the Diocese of Philadelphia, to borrow money for the Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption, in the city of Lancaster
Act 533 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To authorize a subscription to the Hempfield Railroad company, by the District of Spring Garden
Act 534 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Pennsylvania Saving Fund of Philadelphia - amend - division of stock; votes; first election; additional corporators
Act 535 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
For the suppression of the manufacture and sale of intoxicating Liquors, as a beverage
Act 536 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the West Ward Water Company
Act 537 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act authorizing the School Directors of the borough of Washington to borrow money - amend - loans exempted from taxation
Act 538 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To authorize the sale of the Neshoming bridge and make the same a free bridge
Act 539 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act incorporating the Allegheny City and Freeport Railroad Company - amend - extend road
Act 540 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the Inland Safety Mutual Insurance Company
Act 541 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the Borough of Meadville
Act 542 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to appointment of viewers of roads in Westmoreland county
Act 543 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the Buckingham and Doylestown, and Lahaska and New Hope Turnpike Road Company
Act 544 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the North-Western Mutual Insurance Company, of Pennsylvania - amend - powers of board of directors
Act 545 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Conneautville, Cussewago and Edenboro' Plank Road Company
Act 546 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Regulating the mode of voting at special, township, borough and General elections, in Beaver and Lawrence counties
Act 547 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Authorizing the Surveyor of Mercer county to transcribe the Surveys made by former Deputy Surveyors
Act 548 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Erie Fire and Marine Insurance Company of Erie county - amend - subscriptions to capital stock
Act 549 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Authorizing the School Directors of the borough of New Castle to borrow money
Act 550 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to Collectors in Luzerne county
Act 551 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To authorize the completion of the Hospital attached to the Philadelphia County Prison
Act 552 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Declaring Andrews' Run in Pittsfield township, Warren county, a public highway
Act 553 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To extend Walnut street in the borough of Blairsville, Indiana county
Act 554 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to Roads and Bridges in Armstrong County
Act 555 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To divide the borough of Danville, in the county of Montour, into two wards
Act 556 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To authorize the Westmoreland Coal Company to increase their capital
Act 557 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Lykens' Valley Mutual Fire Insurance Company
Act 558 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Exempting the real estate of the Washington Cemetery Company from taxation
Act 559 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To regulate the Killing of Game in Bedford county
Act 560 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act incorporating the Allegheny and Butler Plank Road Company
Act 561 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To prescribe the manner of Collecting certain Taxes
Act 562 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act relating to Executors and Administrators - amend - death of plaintiff
Act 563 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to weight Masters of Railroads, in Schuylkill county
Act 564 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act regulating Election Districts, and for other purposes - amend - extended to the county of Allegheny
Act 565 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act incorporating the Coal Hill and Upper Saint Clair Turnpike and Plank Road Company - amend - tolls regulated; erection of toll gates
Act 566 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Making valid Deeds of Conveyance heretofore made in any of the other of the United States
Act 567 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the several Courts in the Tenth Judicial District
Act 568 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To attach a Law School to the Lock Haven Academy, in the county of Clinton
Act 569 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Six-Penny Saving Fund of Philadelphia
Act 570 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Authorizing the School Directors of Milford township, Somerset county, to sell a certain school house and lot of ground
Act 571 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the collection of taxes in Nockamixon township, in the county of Bucks
Act 572 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Halter Creek Turnpike Road Company
Act 573 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relating to the Revival of Judgments before Justices of the Peace
Act 574 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Wyoming county Plank Road or Turnpike Company
Act 575 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to authorize the Common School Directors of Lower Chanceford township, York county, to sell certain School Houses in said school district; to incorporate the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and for other purposes - amend - amendment of
Act 576 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To extend and vacate certain Streets and Alleys in Lancaster city
Act 577 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the President and Managers of the Feasterville and Bridgetown and the Richboro' and Feasterville Turnpike Road Companies - amend - removal of fences
Act 578 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To authorize the Commissioners of Chester county to borrow money
Act 579 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Appropriating money to repair a Breach on the Delaware Division, of the Pennsylvania Canal
Act 580 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To the Donaldson Improvement and Railroad Company - amend - pay shareholders a dividend
Act 581 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relating to the Sunbury and Erie Railroad Company, and the Cleveland, Painesville and Ashtabula Railroad Company
Act 582 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act incorporating the Pittsburgh and Erie Railroad Company - amend - transfer of rights and privileges to the Ohio and Pennsylvania railroad company
Act 583 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To vacate parts of Rabbit and Meeting-House Lanes in Blockley township, Philadelphia county
Act 584 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to Solicitors of Banks in the county of Philadelphia
Act 585 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Lick Run and Sinnemahoning Turnpike Road Company
Act 586 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To divide the borough of Lebanon into two Wards, for election purposes
Act 587 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to alter and amend the Fee Bill - amend - revived as they relate to several counties
Act 588 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Williamsburg and Yellow Springs Turnpike Road Company, in the county of Blair
Act 589 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To release the estate of the late Prothonotary of Fulton county, from the payment of certain taxes and fees on commissions and bonds
Act 590 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To authorize the School Directors of New Cumberland, Cumberland county, to borrow money for school purposes
Act 591 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to reduce the expenses of collecting State and County taxes in the county of Venango, and for other purposes - amend - collection of taxes; extended to certain counties
Act 592 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
For the encouragement of the National Military College, located near Bristol, Bucks county
Act 593 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the West Chester and Paoli Plank Road
Act 594 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the recording of deeds of Trust
Act 595 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To extend the limits of the Borough of Jersey Shore
Act 596 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to suits by Sheriffs, Prothonotaries and other officers of Westmoreland, Lycoming and Washington counties
Act 597 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Aldenville and Prompton Plank Road Company
Act 598 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Central American Mining Company - amend - exercise powers in Cuba and Central America
Act 599 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To lay out a State Road in Dauphin and Lebanon counties
Act 600 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the manner of voting in Lancaster, Clinton and Somerset counties
Act 601 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relating to the Lock Haven and Tyrone Railroad Company
Act 602 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Broad Mountain Improvement Company - amend - borrow money; increase capital stock; construct railroads
Act 603 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Declaring a part of the Bethany and Dingmans' Choice Turnpike Road, in Pike county, a public highway
Act 604 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the erection of a School House in New Salem, Westmoreland county
Act 605 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Concerning Plank Roads leading from Erie to Meadville
Act 606 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To annul the marriage contract between Henry Webster and Almira his wife
Act 607 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act authorizing Courts of Common Pleas to incorporate Scientific, Agricultural and other Associations - amend - as relates to the county of Bradford
Act 608 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Authorizing the laying out of a State Road from Murrysville, in Westmoreland county, to Stewart's station on the Pennsylvania Railroad
Act 609 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
For the regulation and continuance of a System of Education by Common Schools
Act 610 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act for the regulation and continuance of a System of Education by Common Schools - amend - time when report to be made
Act 611 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Western Clinical Infirmary
Act 612 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to Tavern Licenses in Clarion county
Act 613 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to Tolls on the North Branch extension of the Pennsylvania Canal
Act 614 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relating to the School District of the borough of Lawrenceville, Tioga county
Act 615 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Muncy Creek Plank Road Company; relative to Tavern Licenses in Lycoming county, et cetera - repeal - section 7
Act 616 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to authorize the Governor to incorporate a company to erect a toll bridge over the West Branch of the river Susquehanna, at Walton's Landing - amend - borrow money
Act 617 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Declaring a certain lot of ground, in the borough of Indiana, a public Street
Act 618 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the New Hope, Doylestown and Norristown Railroad Company
Act 619 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the collection of costs incurred in the Collection of Taxes on Inns and Taverns, Breweries, Brokers and Patent Medicines, in the city and county of Philadelphia, for the years 1850 and 1851
Act 621 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Harrisburg Female Seminary - amend - land and building exempted from tax
Act 622 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act authorizing the Governor to incorporate the Lycoming Navigation and Railroad and Coal Company - amend - Red Run Coal Company charter not invalid
Act 623 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
For the payment of certain ground rent due by the Commonwealth to the estate of William Hamilton, deceased
Act 624 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Shrewsbury and Hopewell Plank Road Company - amend - authorized to collect tolls
Act 625 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Morrison's Cove and Woodcock Valley Turnpike Road Company
Act 626 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the German Library Association of the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Act 627 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To annul the marriage contract between John Hunter Graham and Jane De Tracey Graham his wife
Act 628 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act concerning divorces - amend - guilty of felony; cruel and barbarous treatment
Act 629 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To enable the courts to vacate lanes, alleys, roads and highways, when become useless
Act 630 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
By decade
Constitution of 18741874–1967
Constitution of 17761776–1789
- 1780s 567
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.