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
To incorporate the Ohio River Improvement Company.
Act 650 of 1856 · P.L. 687 · May 7, 1856 · Scanned page
To extend and confirm the privileges and acts of Ike Pennsylvania Land and Marble Company.
Act 651 of 1856 · P.L. 700 · 1856 · Scanned page
To the hct, entitled " An Act to incorporate the Pottsville Mutual and Joint Stock Life Insurance Company of Schuylkill county," approved the twenty-first day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
Act 652 of 1856 · P.L. 702 · May 8, 1856 · Scanned page
To annul the marriage contract of Henry F. Price and Mary
Act 653 of 1856 · P.L. 702 · June 21, 1856 · Scanned page
To lay out a State Road in Montuur aud ]N"orthumber]and counties.
Act 654 of 1856 · P.L. 703 · September 8, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplementary to nicts incorporating the American Steam Ship Company, approved seventeenth of February, one thousand eight hundred and fit'tytwo; the Philadelphia and Savannah Steam Navigation Company, approved eighteenth of March, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one; and the Union Steam Ship Company of Philadelphia.
Act 655 of 1856 · P.L. 704 · September 10, 1856 · Scanned page
To repeal the ciiarter of the Erie and North East Railroad Company, and » 1 ■'* to provide for disposing of the same.
Act 656 of 1856 · P.L. 705 · October 6, 1856 · Scanned page
Regulating the manner of voting at the General Elections in the county cf Northampton.
Act 657 of 1856 · P.L. 708 · December 17, 1856 · Scanned page
Substituting the word " suit'' for the word " right," in the second proTiso of an act, entitled " A further supplement to an act incorporating the Upper Lehigh Navigation Company." approved April twentj^-seventh, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Act 659 of 1856 · P.L. 710 · December 31, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled " An Act authorizing the erection of a school house in South-West township, Warren county, and reviving the charter of the Norristown and Valley Railroad Company, under the name of the Chester Valley Railroad Company.
Act 660 of 1856 · P.L. 710 · December 31, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled " An Act to provide for the erection of anew prison and debtors' ap.utnient within the city and county of Philadelphia, and for the sale of the county prison in Walnut street in the said city, apj)roved April fourteenth, one thousand eight hundred thirty-five.
Act of 1856 · P.L. 711 · February 25, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Yenango County 3Iutual Insurance Company.
Act of 1856 · P.L. 715 · April 18, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Codorus and Manheim Mutual Protection Insurance Company of York County.
Act 665 of 1856 · P.L. 715 · April 17, 1856 · Scanned page
For the payment of certain Claims against the Commonwealth.
Act 666 of 1856 · P.L. 716 · May 22, 1856 · Scanned page
To provide for the Payment of the Expenses of Publication of the Pennsylvania School Architecture.
Act of 1856 · February 2, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Lebanon Valley Railroad Company.
Act of 1856 · February 4, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, iiititled •' An Act to incorporate the Ha/.leton Coa! Company,'' approved March sixteenth, cue thousand eiglit Ijundred and thirty-six.
Act 3 of 1856 · January 12, 1856 · Scanned page
Providing for the pay of the Retiring Officers of the present Legislature.
Act 4 of 1856 · January 12, 1856 · Scanned page
To Legitimate Mary Ann Wilber and Martha Bolton.
Act 5 of 1856 · January 16, 1856 · Scanned page
Authorizing the holding of the several Courts of Centre eor.nty in the Methodist Episcoiml Church of Bellefonte, until the new court house is completed.
Act 6 of 1856 · January 16, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act incorporating the Borough of West Chester. SectioiX 1.
Act 7 of 1856 · January 18, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to extend the width of Chatham street, and open part of Tioga street, in the city of Phihid^lphia, passed the twenty-sixth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Act 9 of 1856 · January 18, 1856 · Scanned page
For the Payment of certain Contingencies of Senate for Session of onethousand eight hundred and
Act 10 of 1856 · January 30, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to provide for the erection of a House for the Employment and Support of the Poor for the county of Carbon, approved the twtnty-sisth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Act 12 of 1856 · January 31, 1856 · Scanned page
To repeal an act relative to the opening of a ])ortion of Tioga Street, in th« city of Plnladelphia.
Act 13 of 1856 · January 31, 1856 · Scanned page
For the relief of Rachel Henderson, widow of an old Soldier.
Act 15 of 1856 · January 31, 1856 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Hanover and South Whitehall Bridge Company.
Act 16 of 1856 · January 31, 1856 · Scanned page
Kelative to the Simbury Canal and Water-power Company.
Act 17 of 1856 · January 31, 1856 · Scanned page
For the relief of Margaret Morris, widow of an old Soldier.
Act 18 of 1856 · January 31, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act incorporating the German Lutheran Congregation in and near the city of Fhiiadelj)liia, in the State of Fennaylvauia, passed on the third day of March, Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and eighty.
Act 19 of 1856 · January 31, 1856 · Scanned page
For the relief of A. Magdalene Thomas, widow of an old Soldier of the Revolutionary war.
Act 20 of 1856 · February 1, 1856 · Scanned page
In relation to the appointment of Collectors of State and County Taxes.
Act 21 of 1856 · February 1, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to reduce the expenses of Collecting Taxes in the counties «rf Washington and Greene.
Act 22 of 1856 · February 1, 1856 · Scanned page
To char.ge the place of holding fhe General, Borough, Township and Speciai Elections of the Borough of Orvvigsburg, in the county of Schuylkill.
Act 23 of 1856 · February 1, 1856 · Scanned page
To authorize the American Steamship Company to wind up and settle their affairs, and disttibute their a.ssets among the stockholders.
Act 24 of 1856 · February 1, 1856 · Scanned page
To provide for the Payment of the Expenses of Publication of the P«iiii sylTHDia School Arcaitecture.
Act 25 of 1856 · February 2, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplementary to an act relating to the Survey of Tioga Village.
Act 27 of 1856 · February 4, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to encourage the Manufocture of Iron with Coke or Mineral Coal, ami for other purposes,*' appu-oved the sixteenth day of June, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six.
Act 28 of 1856 · February 4, 1856 · Scanned page
Changing the place of holding Elections in the township of Clifford, in Susquehanna county.
Act 29 of 1856 · February 4, 1856 · Scanned page
Relative to a Tax on Dogs in the county of Fayette.
Act 30 of 1856 · February 4, 1856 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act passed the twenty-ninth day of January, Anno l^omin! eee (bnaand eight hundred and fifty-three, entitled •< An Act to inoorperate te Board of Colportage of the Synod of Pittabnig.'* Keetion of board.
Act 646 of 1856 · May 7, 1856 · Scanned page
Relative to the purchase of certain Books I'or the Legislature.
Resolution 1 of 1856 · P.L. 579 · January 15, 1856 · Scanned page
Of thanks to Dr. Kane, his officers and crew, for the successful result of the recent expedition to the Polar regions.
Resolution 2 of 1856 · P.L. 579 · January 25, 1856 · Scanned page
Relative to the supply of double tubed Gas Burners.
Resolution 3 of 1856 · P.L. 580 · January 30, 1856 · Scanned page
Providing for the appointment of additional officers of tlie Legislature.
Resolution 4 of 1856 · P.L. 581 · January 31, 1856 · Scanned page
Authorizing the State Treasurer to pay certain witnesses attending before the Committee appointed on the matter of the contested election of John C.
Resolution 5 of 1856 · P.L. 581 · February 4, 1856 · Scanned page
Foi the payment of certain moneys to Hopkins and Brown upon the publication of the Daily Legislative Record.
Resolution 6 of 1856 · P.L. 582 · February 25, 1856 · Scanned page
Requesting our Senators and Representatives in Congress to urge Appropriations to complete the Works of Defence on the Delaware.
Resolution 7 of 1856 · P.L. 582 · February 25, 1856 · Scanned page
Providing for the payment of certain moneys due John C.
Resolution 8 of 1856 · P.L. 583 · February 25, 1856 · Scanned page
Relative to the pay ofWilliam "W. Ivory, for his services as clerk to tiie Committee in the contested Election Case of John (J. M'Ghee, and for the payment of the Sergeant-at-Arms and his Deputy, for serving subpoenas in the same case.
Resolution 9 of 1856 · P.L. 584 · February 25, 1856 · Scanned page
Belative to the claim of the Montour Iron Company.
Resolution 10 of 1856 · P.L. 584 · March 7, 1856 · Scanned page
Relative to the Canal Basin at Portsmouth, Dauphin county.
Resolution 11 of 1856 · P.L. 585 · March 19, 1856 · Scanned page
To authorize the Canal Commissioners to exchange a certain Lot of Land in or near the borough of Milton, Northumberland county.
Resolution 12 of 1856 · P.L. 585 · March 25, 1856 · Scanned page
Kelative to furnishing Books by the State Printer to the State Librarian, for the purpose of Foreign Exchange.
Resolution of 1856 · P.L. 587 · April 19, 1856 · Scanned page
Relative to furnishing Books by the State Printer to the State Librarian, for the purpose of Foreign Bxchange.
Resolution 14 of 1856 · P.L. 587 · April 19, 1856 · Scanned page
In regard to the place of holding elections in the townships of Osceola and Nelson, in the county of Tioga, and the appointment of officers to hold the next elections.
Act 10 of 1857 · P.L. 7 · January 31, 1857 · Scanned page
Authorizing tlie Directors of the Poor and House of Employriaent for the county of Erie to purchase fifty-acres of land.
Act 11 of 1857 · P.L. 8 · January 31, 1857 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act of the thirteenth of May, one thousand eight hundred and fiftysix, entitled " An Act authorizing the citizens of the borough of Mercer to erect a Union School House in said borough.
Act 12 of 1857 · P.L. 9 · January 31, 1857 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to incorporate the New Castle and Darlington Railroad Company.
Act 14 of 1857 · P.L. 11 · January 31, 1857 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled " An Act to incorporate the Nescopeck Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
Act 15 of 1857 · P.L. 12 · January 31, 1857 · Scanned page
To fix the time for holding Courts in Wyoming county.
Act 16 of 1857 · P.L. 12 · January 31, 1857 · Scanned page
Relative to the Philadelphia and Sunbury Railroad.
Act 17 of 1857 · P.L. 13 · February 3, 1857 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act incorporating the University of Free Medicine and Popiilar Knowledge.
Act 18 of 1857 · P.L. 14 · February 6, 1857 · Scanned page
To enable the city of Philadelphia to sell two certain small Ground Rents.
Act 20 of 1857 · P.L. 15 · February 6, 1857 · Scanned page
For the relief of the sureties of William M"Candless, late Prothonotary of the Supreme Court for the AVestern district of Pennsylvania.
Act of 1857 · P.L. 16 · February 6, 1857 · Scanned page
For the relief of the sureties of WillUm M'GaDdless, late Protbonotaiy of the Supreme Coort for the Western district of
Act 21 of 1857 · P.L. 16 · February 6, 1857 · Scanned page
To establish a ferry over the Ohio river at the borough of Sewickly, in Allegheny connty.
Act 22 of 1857 · P.L. 17 · February 6, 1857 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled " An Act incorporating the Luzerne Mutual Insurance Company," approved March the twenty-seventh, one thousand eight hundred and forty.
Act 23 of 1857 · P.L. 18 · February 6, 1857 · Scanned page
Supplementary to the act authorizing the incorporation of the borough oC Waverly, in Luzerne county.
Act 24 of 1857 · P.L. 19 · February 6, 1857 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act to incorporate the Huntingdon and Broadtop Mountain Railroad and Coal Company, approved May the sixth, eighteen hundred and fifty-two.
Act 25 of 1857 · P.L. 20 · February 6, 1857 · Scanned page
Snpplementary to the act to incorporate the Morrison's Cove and Woodcock Valley Turnpike Road Company.
Act 26 of 1857 · P.L. 20 · February 6, 1857 · Scanned page
To change the place of holding the general, special and township elections for the township of Benner, in the county of Centre.
Act 28 of 1857 · P.L. 22 · February 6, 1857 · Scanned page
To change t)xe place of holding elections in the township of Allegheny, in Potter county.
Act 29 of 1857 · P.L. 22 · February 6, 1857 · Scanned page
Eegulating the place of holding elections in Hopewell township, Beaver county.
Act 30 of 1857 · P.L. 23 · February 6, 1857 · Scanned page
To change the place of holding elections in the township of Crawfor<i, Clinton county.
Act 31 of 1857 · P.L. 24 · February 6, 1857 · Scanned page
Fixing the place of holding the elections in the townships of Scrubgrass and Irwin, in the county of Venango.
Act 32 of 1857 · P.L. 24 · February 6, 1857 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act incorporating the Richland Turnpike or Plank Road Company.
Act 33 of 1857 · P.L. 25 · February 6, 1857 · Scanned page
Authorizing the payment of Certain Coupons represented to have been lost.
Act 34 of 1857 · P.L. 26 · February 12, 1857 · Scanned page
For holding elections in Chest township, Cambria county, at the house of Alexander Shellenberger.
Act 35 of 1857 · P.L. 27 · February 13, 1857 · Scanned page
To authorize the Lancaster and Marietta Turnpike Road Company to borrow money.
Act 37 of 1857 · P.L. 28 · February 13, 1857 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the West Ward Water Companvof Easton.
Act 38 of 1857 · P.L. 29 · February 13, 1857 · Scanned page
To repeal the seventh section of an act incorporating the Roxborongh Ly« ceum, approved May eighth, Anno Domini one thousand eight Imndred and fifty-four, and to vest the trust of certain school property in the city of Philadelphia.
Act 39 of 1857 · P.L. 30 · February 13, 1857 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to lay out a State road from Pine Grove, in Mercer county, via Centreville, to the nearest station on the North-westein railroad, in Butler county.
Act 40 of 1857 · P.L. 32 · February 13, 1857 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled " An Act relating to tlie road laws in Franklin and Valley townships, in the connty of Chester," approved the eleventh day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and liftyfour.
Act 41 of 1857 · P.L. 33 · 1857 · Scanned page
To authorize the Commissioners of Blair county to borrow money.
Act 42 of 1857 · P.L. 33 · February 13, 1857 · Scanned page
Relative to the Lancaster County Prison,
Act 43 of 1857 · P.L. 34 · February 13, 1857 · Scanned page
To change the place of holdin,s; elections in tlie township of Liverpool, Perry couuty. Where.as, The person at whose liouse the elections were formerly held in the township of Liverpool, in the countj^ of Perrj', has notilied the judges and inspectors of said township that she will, under no circumstances, permit the holding of any more elections at or in her house; and said notice having
Act 41 of 1857 · P.L. 35 · February 13, 1857 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act incorporating the Tacony and Poquessin Plank Road Company, approved the third day of M.irch, one thousand eight hundred and fiftyfour.
Act 46 of 1857 · P.L. 36 · February 13, 1857 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act, entitled " An Act to incorporate the Hazleton Coal Company.
Act 48 of 1857 · P.L. 37 · February 14, 1857 · Scanned page
Granting equity powers and jurisdictions to Courts of Common Pleas.
Act 49 of 1857 · P.L. 39 · February 14, 1857 · Scanned page
To authorize the German Reformed Salem Church and the Evangelical Luthern Zion's Church, of the borough of llarrisburg, to sell and convey certain real estate.
Act 50 of 1857 · P.L. 39 · February 16, 1857 · Scanned page
Relative to the sale of a certain burial ground for colored persons, in the borough of Harrisburg, and to the purchase of other groiiud for such purpose.
Act 51 of 1857 · P.L. 41 · February 16, 1857 · Scanned page
To authorize t1ie President and Managers of the Plymouth and Upper Dublin Turnpike Road Company to borrow money.
Act 52 of 1857 · P.L. 44 · February 18, 1857 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Logan Insurance Conipanr.
Act 55 of 1857 · P.L. 46 · February 18, 1857 · Scanned page
Vacating George street, in the Fifteenth ward of the city of Philadelphia.
Act 57 of 1857 · P.L. 47 · February 18, 1857 · Scanned page
To straighten part of a street in the borough of West Pittsburg.
Act 58 of 1857 · P.L. 48 · February 18, 1857 · Scanned page
To legitimate Hetty, Celinda, Henry, Charles and Lavina Hartman.
Act of 1857 · P.L. 49 · February 18, 1857 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act, entitled " An act to incorporate the West Branch Iligh School Boarding House Association," approved the twenty-sixth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Act 59 of 1857 · P.L. 49 · February 18, 1857 · Scanned page
To legitimate Hetty, Gelinda, Henry, Charles and Lavina Hartman.
Act 60 of 1857 · P.L. 49 · February 18, 1857 · Scanned page
Changing the name of Ross township, in Mercer county, to tiie name of Deer Creek.
Act 64 of 1857 · P.L. 52 · February 18, 1857 · 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.