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
Relative to Elections in the borough of Meadville, and for other purposes.
Act 543 of 1856 · P.L. 510 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
To charter of the borough of Girard, in the county of Erie.
Act 544 of 1856 · P.L. 510 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
For the relief of Arnold and Clover.
Act 545 of 1856 · P.L. 512 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
To repeal certain acts of Assembly upon non-payment of the enrollment tax.
Act 546 of 1856 · P.L. 512 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
To aufhorize the Scranton Society of the ifethodist Episcopal Church of Luzerne county to convey certain Real Estate. Whekeas, George Scranton and others, by indenture bearing date the fifth day of July, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and forty-two, did grant and convey unto Barton Mott and others, trustees of the Alethodist Episcopal congregation in Providence township, Luzerne
Act 547 of 1856 · P.L. 513 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
To authorize Ziba Bennett, guardian of George S. Bennett, to sell and convey certain Real Estate.
Act 548 of 1856 · P.L. 514 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
Authorizing certain Land to be Patented.
Act 550 of 1856 · P.L. 515 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
Incorporating the Glen Hope and New Washington Turnpike and Plank Road Company.
Act 551 of 1856 · P.L. 516 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to appoint Hugh M'Kee to view parts of the Franklin Road.
Act 552 of 1856 · P.L. 517 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
Relative to State Roads and Bridges in the counties of Lancaster and Indiana.
Act 553 of 1856 · P.L. 518 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
To establish the Boundary Line between the counties of Mifflin and Huntingdon.
Act 554 of 1856 · P.L. 518 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
For the relief of Edward Jifkins and Bartholomew Morrison, of Carbondale.
Act 555 of 1856 · P.L. 519 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Elk Gap Turnpike Road
Act 556 of 1856 · P.L. 520 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
"Xo establish and regulate the Erie School District with a High School.
Act 557 of 1856 · P.L. 521 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
Suppleoieiitary to an act providing for the more effectual preservation of the Cumberland Road, approved the eighth of April, one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.
Act 558 of 1856 · P.L. 523 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to incorporate the Trustees of the Fire Association of Philadelphia, approved April third, one thousand eight hundred and thirtythree.
Act 559 of 1856 · P.L. 524 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act regulating Boroughs, approved April third, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-oce.
Act of 1856 · P.L. 525 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
Do an act to incorporate the Fanners' Mntaal Fire Insurance Compmy of Paradise, in Yoik coanty.
Act 560 of 1856 · P.L. 525 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
Relating to Real Estate held by or for the Penneylvania Railroad
Act 562 of 1856 · P.L. 526 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
Authorizing the restoration of the Capital Stock of the Harrisburg Bank.
Act 563 of 1856 · P.L. 528 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
Extending the chancery jurisdiction of the Courts of Common Pleas of the Tenth Judicial District.
Act of 1856 · P.L. 529 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
To create an additional Judicial District.
Act 566 of 1856 · P.L. 530 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
For the greater certainty of title and more secure enjoyments of Real Estate.
Act of 1856 · P.L. 532 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
To restrain the Erie Canal Company from fixing exorbitant Rates of Tolls, and for other purposes.
Act 569 of 1856 · P.L. 535 · April 23, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Chesnut Hill Water Company.
Act 570 of 1856 · P.L. 535 · April 24, 1856 · Scanned page
To extend the Charter of the Philadelj)hia Bank.
Act 571 of 1856 · P.L. 536 · April 24, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled " An Act to re-instate the Capital and extend the Charter of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Thiladelphia," approved the sixteenth day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
Act 572 of 1856 · P.L. 537 · April 24, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Conemaugh Bridge Cotopany.
Act 573 of 1856 · P.L. 538 · April 4, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Johnstown Water and Gas Company.
Act 574 of 1856 · P.L. 538 · April 15, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Roxborough, Manaj'unk and Montgomery county.
Act 575 of 1856 · P.L. 541 · April 15, 1856 · Scanned page
To change the name of the Greenwich Land and Building Association, and to authorize said company to construct a Railroad in the city of Philadelphia.
Act 576 of 1856 · P.L. 542 · April 21, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Lackawanna Bridge Company.
Act 577 of 1856 · P.L. 542 · April 21, 1856 · Scanned page
Relative to the Estate of Joshua Griffin, deceased.
Act 578 of 1856 · P.L. 543 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Westmoreland Safety Mutual Insurance Company.
Act 579 of 1856 · P.L. 544 · 1856 · Scanned page
No. 5S0. A N ACT To confer upon Eliza Cameron Warford, adopted daughter of Anthony B. Warford and Eliza Warford his wife, the rights of a child born of their bodies.
Act of 1856 · P.L. 545 · April 18, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the St. Clair Cemetery Association, of the borough of Greensburg, Westmoreland county.
Act of 1856 · P.L. 546 · April 19, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Kensington Glass Company of Pliiladelphia.
Act 582 of 1856 · P.L. 549 · 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Warehousing Corapaay of Philadelphia.
Act 583 of 1856 · P.L. 551 · April 22, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Trustees of the Theological Seminary of the Reformeii Presbyterian Church in North America.
Act 584 of 1856 · P.L. 552 · April 19, 1856 · Scanned page
To provide for the ordinary expenses of Government, the repairs of the Public Canals and Railroads, and other general and special Appropriations.
Act 585 of 1856 · P.L. 554 · May 13, 1856 · Scanned page
to the act incorporating tlie Erie and N"orth-East Railroad Company.
Act of 1856 · P.L. 565 · May 13, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act coosolidating the city of Philadelphia.
Act 587 of 1856 · P.L. 567 · May 13, 1856 · Scanned page
Relative to Libels.
Act 588 of 1856 · P.L. 574 · May 13, 1856 · Scanned page
Authorizing the citizens of the borough of Mercer to erect a Union School House in said
Act 589 of 1856 · P.L. 574 · May 13, 1856 · Scanned page
To provide for the settleiiient of a certain Trust in the case of Benjamin Bond, of the city of Philadelphia.
Act 590 of 1856 · P.L. 577 · May 13, 1856 · Scanned page
For the relief of Henry Berrier and Margaretta his wife; relative to the destruction of Deer in Adams county; to incorporate the Muncy Copper Mining and Smelting Company, in Lycoming county; and relative to the Stockholders of the Lykens Valley Railroad Company.
Act 591 of 1856 · P.L. 588 · April 10, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Board of Colportage of the Synod of Pittsburg.
Act 592 of 1856 · P.L. 592 · January 29, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Jersey Shore, Pine Creek and State Line Raih'oad Company.
Act 593 of 1856 · P.L. 594 · April 11, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Lewisburg, Centre and Spruce Creek Railread Company.
Act 594 of 1856 · P.L. 595 · April 12, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Nicholson Run and Pine Swamp Railroad Company. Sectiox 1.
Act 595 of 1856 · P.L. 597 · April 18, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Seranton Gas and Water Company.
Act 596 of 1856 · P.L. 599 · March 16, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Hollidaysburg Water ard Gas Company.
Act 597 of 1856 · P.L. 601 · March 16, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Tyrone and Clearfield Railroad Company.
Act 598 of 1856 · P.L. 603 · March 23, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Jeddo and Carbon County Railroad Company.
Act 599 of 1856 · P.L. 605 · March 23, 1856 · Scanned page
To extend the Charter of the Bank of Middletown.
Act 600 of 1856 · P.L. 606 · April 18, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Navigation Kaih-oad Company.
Act 601 of 1856 · P.L. 606 · April 20, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Duncannon, Landisburg, and Broad Top Railroad Company.
Act 602 of 1856 · P.L. 608 · May 5, 1856 · Scanned page
To iiriTiul the marriage contract between A. M. Adams and Virginia Adams.
Act 603 of 1856 · P.L. 609 · June 13, 1856 · Scanned page
Ftlative to the colleetioD of the School Tax in Tonng township, Jefferson county, for the year one thousand eight bnndied and
Act 604 of 1856 · P.L. 609 · December 14, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act, entitled " An Act for the Charter of a Savings and Deposite Bank, to be located in Warren, TTarren county, and to he called The Warren County Bank," approved May fifth, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
Act 605 of 1856 · P.L. 610 · October 24, 1856 · Scanned page
Relative to Weights and Measures in Franklin and Lancaster counties.
Act 606 of 1856 · P.L. 610 · December 14, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplementary to the act, entitled " An Act to incorporate the Limerick and Colebrookdale Turnpike Conipanj-," approved March fifteenth, one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, with the supplements thereto.
Act 607 of 1856 · P.L. 611 · December 14, 1856 · Scanned page
Relative to a Tax on Dogs in Schuylkill township, Chester county.
Act 608 of 1856 · P.L. 612 · December 14, 1856 · Scanned page
Relative to the Exonerations of Military Taxes,
Act 609 of 1856 · P.L. 613 · December 14, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act, entitled " An Act to incorporate the Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad Company," approved April eleventh, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
Act 610 of 1856 · P.L. 613 · February 9, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act incoiporatfaig the Erie County Mstaal Insuzsnee Compny.
Act 611 of 1856 · P.L. 614 · February 9, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Somerset County Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
Act 612 of 1856 · P.L. 616 · July 14, 1856 · Scanned page
To authorize the Governor to incorporate a company to erect a Bridge over the Youghiogheny river, at a point between the middle of M'Millin's Island and Taylor's Fording, in the county of Fayette.
Act 613 of 1856 · P.L. 620 · February 27, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act, entitled " An Act to incorporate the South Mountain Railroad Company," approved the fifth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Act 615 of 1856 · P.L. 626 · March 9, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Philadelphia and Norristown Telegraph Company.
Act 616 of 1856 · P.L. 627 · March 9, 1856 · Scanned page
To authorize the Governor to incorporate a Company to erect a Bridge across Juniata river, near Thompsontown, Juniata county.
Act 617 of 1856 · P.L. 629 · 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act incorporating the Susquehanna and Clearfield County Bridge Company.
Act 618 of 1856 · P.L. 633 · March 29, 1856 · Scanned page
To consolidate the Snnbury Canal Con3pany and the Sunbury Lumber and Car Manufacturing Company. SfiCTioJM 1.
Act 619 of 1856 · P.L. 634 · April 5, 1856 · Scanned page
Incorporating the Lewistown Gas Company, in Mifflin county.
Act 620 of 1856 · P.L. 635 · April 9, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the West Branch Insurance Company.
Act 623 of 1856 · P.L. 648 · April 12, 1856 · Scanned page
To change the name of Matilda John to Matilda John Gross. Sectio>j 1.
Act 624 of 1856 · P.L. 652 · April 18, 1856 · Scanned page
To iucorporate the TThite Sulphur Springs Company, of Fayette Connty.
Act 625 of 1856 · P.L. 653 · April 18, 1856 · Scanned page
To change the name of James Baxter
Act 627 of 1856 · P.L. 655 · April 21, 1856 · Scanned page
To change the name of the Philadelphia Mutual Live Stock Insurance Company, and to increase the capital stock thereof.
Act 628 of 1856 · P.L. 655 · April 26, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Excelsior Railroad and Coal Company, in Allegheny county.
Act 629 of 1856 · P.L. 656 · April 26, 1856 · Scanned page
Relative to the Philadelphia Real Estate Savingsand Loan Company.
Act of 1856 · P.L. 659 · April 26, 1856 · Scanned page
Relative to the FhtUdelphia Real Estate Sayings and Loan Company.
Act 631 of 1856 · P.L. 659 · April 27, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Lafayette Mutual Insurance Company of Philadelphia.
Act 632 of 1856 · P.L. 659 · April 27, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate tbe Columbia Coal and Iron Company.
Act 634 of 1856 · P.L. 662 · April 27, 1856 · Scanned page
A FURTHER SUPPLExMENT "To an act to incorporate the First Reformed Congregation of the borough of York and its vicinity, passed the fourteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and forty. nine.
Act 635 of 1856 · P.L. 663 · April 30, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act, entitled "An Act authorizing the Governor to incorporate the President, Managers and Company of the Lewisbiirg and Jersey Shore Turnpike Road and Bridge Company," passed the fifteenth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, and the supplement to the same, passed the fourteenth day of Ajjril, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
Act 636 of 1856 · P.L. 664 · May 2, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Philadelphia Steam Tug Company for saving and protecting property.
Act 637 of 1856 · P.L. 665 · May 2, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Stout's Ferry Bridge Company, in the county of Berks.
Act 638 of 1856 · P.L. 667 · May 3, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Fairfield Town Hall Association.
Act 639 of 1856 · P.L. 668 · May 3, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Lynn Mutual Fire Insurance Company cf Lehigh county.
Act 640 of 1856 · P.L. 670 · May 4, 1856 · Scanned page
To extend the Charter of the Northampton and Luzerne Coal Company.
Act 641 of 1856 · P.L. 670 · May 4, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Tioga Building and Manufactnring Association.
Act 642 of 1856 · P.L. 671 · May 5, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Safe Harbor Iron Company.
Act 643 of 1856 · P.L. 674 · May 5, 1856 · Scanned page
To au act, entitled " An Act to incorporate the rVuncannon, Landisbirrg and Broad Top Railroad Company.
Act of 1856 · P.L. 676 · May 5, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Farmers' American Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Bucks County.
Act of 1856 · P.L. 676 · May 5, 1856 · Scanned page
To «D act, entitled <* A.n Act to incorporate tbe IXnocaiiiioB, Laa&taff and Broad Top Railroad Company.
Act 644 of 1856 · P.L. 676 · May 5, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act passed the twenty -ninth day of January, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and tifty-three, entitled " An Act to incoiporate th® Board of Colportage of the Synod of Pittsburg.
Act of 1856 · P.L. 680 · May 5, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to incorporate the Meadville, \.^estern and Mutual Insurance Company.
Act 647 of 1856 · P.L. 681 · May 7, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitle^i "An Act to incorporate the Wilkesbarre Cemetery Association.
Act 648 of 1856 · P.L. 682 · 1856 · Scanned page
Incorporating the Pemberton Fire and Marine Insurance Company of Philadelphia.
Act 649 of 1856 · P.L. 682 · May 7, 1856 · Scanned page
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.