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.
7,883 laws of the 1860s
Constitution of 1838
To fix the hours of keeping open the State Library.
Act 17 of 1869 · P.L. 18 · February 17, 1869 · Scanned page
Authorizing the congregating of convicts in the Western Penitentiary for labor, learning and religious services.
Act 18 of 1869 · P.L. 18 · April 8, 1869 · Scanned page
Relating to the settlement of public accounts.
Act 19 of 1869 · P.L. 19 · April 8, 1869 · Scanned page
To the acts relating to the passage of fish in the Susquehanna and its tributaries.
Act 20 of 1869 · P.L. 19 · April 8, 1869 · Scanned page
Relating to suits brought by parties residing in another State against parties in this State.
Act 23 of 1869 · P.L. 23 · April 10, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplementary to an act relating to railroad companies, approved May sixteenth, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Act 24 of 1869 · P.L. 24 · April 10, 1869 · Scanned page
To declare Good Friday a public holiday.
Act 26 of 1869 · P.L. 26 · April 12, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act relating to orphans' courts, approved the twenty -ninth day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirtytwo.
Act 28 of 1869 · P.L. 28 · April 13, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act to incorporate and endow the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, approved the eighth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one.
Act 29 of 1869 · P.L. 28 · April 14, 1869 · Scanned page
Requiring a majority of the directors or managers of corporations to constitute a quorum.
Act 30 of 1869 · P.L. 29 · April 15, 1869 · Scanned page
Allowing parties in interest to be witnesses.
Act 31 of 1869 · P.L. 30 · April 15, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act directing the entry of liens for tlie principal and interest due to the commonweallh for lands held by virtue of locations or other office titles, approved the twentietli day of May, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty
Act 32 of 1869 · P.L. 31 · April 15, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize railroad and canal companies to aid in the development of the coal, iron, lumber and other material interests of this Commonwealth.
Act 33 of 1869 · P.L. 31 · April 15, 1869 · Scanned page
To repeal an act, entitled "An Act to authorize the sale of the property of any incorporated company, upon the bonds secured by a mortgage given by it, with like effect as if sold upon the mortgage.'
Act 34 of 1869 · P.L. 32 · April 15, 1869 · Scanned page
To provide for the extinction of irredeemable rents.
Act 37 of 1869 · P.L. 47 · April 15, 1869 · Scanned page
Further supplevnental to the act relative to the elections of this
Act 38 of 1869 · P.L. 49 · 1869 · Scanned page
To repeal the last proviso to the thirty -ninth section of the act, approved twenty-ninth April, one thousand eight hundred and fortyfour, in relation to State Board of Kevenue Commissioners.
Act 41 of 1869 · P.L. 67 · April 17, 1869 · Scanned page
To confirm the acknowledgments of deeds, mortgages, or other instruments of writing heretofore made by corporations.
Act 42 of 1869 · P.L. 68 · April 17, 1869 · Scanned page
To exempt sewing machines belonging to seamstresses in this Commonwealth from levy and sale on execution or distress for rent.
Act 44 of 1869 · P.L. 69 · April 17, 1869 · Scanned page
To extend the time for paying certain enrolment taxes.
Act 45 of 1869 · P.L. 69 · April 17, 1869 · Scanned page
For the protection of contingent interests.
Act of 1869 · P.L. 70 · April 17, 1869 · Scanned page
Eelating to the appraisement of real estate devised by any last will and testament within this Commonwealth.
Act 49 of 1869 · P.L. 72 · April 17, 1869 · Scanned page
To provide a mode of inquiring into the origin of fires.
Act 50 of 1869 · P.L. 74 · April 17, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act for the relief of wives deserted by their husbands in the county of Lancaster and other counties, approved twenty-seventh day of February, one thousand eight hundred and sixty
Act 51 of 1869 · P.L. 75 · April 15, 1869 · Scanned page
To allow writs of estrepement to issue to stay waste pending writs of error in partition and other real actions.
Act 52 of 1869 · P.L. 76 · April 20, 1869 · Scanned page
Relating to dowers.
Act 53 of 1869 · P.L. 77 · April 20, 1869 · Scanned page
To provide for the admission of certain classes of the insane into hospitals for the insane in this Commonwealth, and their discharge therefrom.
Act 54 of 1869 · P.L. 78 · April 20, 1869 · Scanned page
Entitled "An Act to confer upon the courts of quarter sessions of this Commonwealth power to annex the land or parts thereof of persons resident in one district to another for school purposes," approved April thirteen, one thousand eight hundred and sixtyseven.
Act 55 of 1869 · P.L. 80 · April 20, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the councils of cities and boroughs in this Commonwealtli to provide for the inspection of milk.
Act 56 of 1869 · P.L. 81 · April 20, 1869 · Scanned page
Toan act, entitled '*An Act enabling the banks of this Commonwealtii to become associations for the purpose of banking under the law3 of the United States.
Act 57 of 1869 · P.L. 82 · April 20, 1869 · Scanned page
To enable Courts of Common Pleas of this Comteomvealth to change the name, style and title of corporations.
Act 58 of 1869 · P.L. 82 · April 20, 1869 · Scanned page
In relation binding by tiio Trustees of tlie Home for friendless and destitute children.
Act 59 of 1869 · P.L. 83 · April 20, 1869 · Scanned page
Hunting deer dur ing certain seasous, prohibited. Killing ruffed grouse, quail, &c., during certain seasons, Brohibited. Killing -woodcock dunn!< cpr'ain isi asols, prohibited. Tcsl ruction of ir secr.ivoious birus pioliibiied. Hiiutlng on iuu day, prohibiten. Providing for ttie tailing of game.
Act 60 of 1869 · P.L. 84 · April 21, 1869 · Scanned page
Repealing the sixth section of a further supplement to an act for the regulation and continuance of a system of education by common schools, approved the ninth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Act 64 of 1869 · P.L. 89 · April 21, 1869 · Scanned page
Authorizing the Governor, Auditor General and State Treasurer to exchange registered bonds for coupon bonds.
Act 65 of 1869 · P.L. 89 · April 24, 1869 · Scanned page
Gut §,tt Toicreate a Board of Public Charities.
Act 66 of 1869 · P.L. 90 · April 24, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to provide for the incorporation of Gas and Water Companies, approved March elevenih, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Act 67 of 1869 · P.L. 93 · April 24, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act to revise, amend and consolidate the several laws taxing corporations, brokers and bankers, approved May one, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Act 68 of 1869 · P.L. 94 · April 24, 1869 · Scanned page
Explanatory of an act granting an increase of capital to literary or charitable institutions becoming soldiers' orphans' schools, approved April tenth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty
Act 69 of 1869 · P.L. 95 · April 24, 1869 · Scanned page
To aid the House of Refuge of Eastern Pennsylvania.
Act 71 of 1869 · P.L. 96 · April 26, 1869 · Scanned page
To cure defects in fixing tlie number of jurors and in tilling the jury wheel in Clearfield county.
Act 72 of 1869 · P.L. 97 · January 6, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to authorize the commissioners of Luzerne county to build a new county jail and perform other acts.
Act of 1869 · P.L. 98 · January 20, 1869 · Scanned page
To correct a clerical error in a supplement to an act to incorporate the Harrisburg Gas Company, approved April twelfth, Ar.-no Domini eighteen hundred and sixty
Act 73 of 1869 · P.L. 98 · January 20, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act incorporating the Williamsport Water Company.
Act 15 of 1869 · P.L. 99 · January 20, 1869 · Scanned page
To extend the provisions of an act relating to costs in Luzerne county, approved the second day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty -three, to the county of Schuylkill, with a proviso.
Act of 1869 · P.L. 100 · January 22, 1869 · Scanned page
To divide the Twentieth ward of the cit\' of Philadelphia into two school
Act 77 of 1869 · P.L. 101 · January 22, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the president, managers and company of the Schuylkill bridge, at Swede's Ford, in the county of Montgomery, to borrow money.
Act 18 of 1869 · P.L. 102 · January 26, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to incorporate the Saucon Iron Company, approved the eighteenth day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, to correct a clerical error regulating the bonus paid oy said company.
Act 79 of 1869 · P.L. 102 · February 3, 1869 · Scanned page
To anthorize the board of school directors of the borough of Wilkesbarre to borrow money and issue bonds therefor.
Act 81 of 1869 · P.L. 104 · February 3, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act incorporating the Marine Hospital at Erie.
Act 83 of 1869 · P.L. 105 · February 4, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the Governor to appoint an additional notary public in the counties of Mercer and Lawrence.
Act 84 of 1869 · P.L. 107 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate Ursinus College.
Act 85 of 1869 · P.L. 107 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the appointment of additional notaries public for the county of Allegheny.
Act 86 of 1869 · P.L. 109 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act passed the twenty-fifth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Walker Hall Association of Germantown.
Act 81 of 1869 · P.L. 110 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the CaSrier Seminary of Western Pennsylvania, in the county of Clarion, to borrow money and issue bonds.
Act 88 of 1869 · P.L. 110 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
Extending the provisions of an act relating to appeals and transcripts from the judgments of justices of the peace in and for the counties of Centre, Blair, Lehigh, Clinton, Schuylkill, Allegheny, Indiana, Northampton, Luzerne, Lebanon, Berks, Perry, MiflBlin and York, approved the second day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty -eight, to the counties of Cumberland and Cambria.
Act 89 of 1869 · P.L. 111 · 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the mayor and common council of Philadelphia and the commissioners of certain counties of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to purchase "Campbell's System for Indexing Records,
Act 90 of 1869 · P.L. 112 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
To prevent the destruction of deer in Clearfield county.
Act 91 of 1869 · P.L. 113 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
To correct a clerical error in the act, entitled "An Act relative to the eligibility of the officers of the Tioga Railroad Company and to the time of holding meeting of said company," approved March first, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, and to confirm and make valid all the acts and proceedings of the board of directors or managers of said company under said act.
Act 92 of 1869 · P.L. 114 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, etititled "An Act to layout a State road from Tarentutn, iu the county of Allegheny," approved the twelfth day of April, one tliousand eight hundred and fifty-six, and the supplement thereto, approved April the ninth, one thousand eight hundred and sixtyseven.
Act 93 of 1869 · P.L. 114 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplementary to an act, entitled '*An Act to incorporate the Odd Fellows' Temple Association of the borough of Ashland," approved eleventh of April, Anno Domini eighteen hundred and sixty-six.
Act 94 of 1869 · P.L. 115 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
To repeal a part of the first section of an act, approved April fourteenth, one thousand eight hundred and forty, entitled "A further supplement to the act, entitled 'An Act to enable the Governor to appoint notaries public, and for other purposes therein mentionedj' " as to the counties of Bradford, Cameron and Elk.
Act 95 of 1869 · P.L. 116 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
Relative to the pay of the county commissioners, county auditors, jurors, supervisors and assessors of the county of Fayette.
Act 96 of 1869 · P.L. 117 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to increase the compensation of the county commissioners of Delaware county, and designating the period of the commencement for the official term of said commissioners and auditors of said county," approved the fifteenth day of February, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Act 98 of 1869 · P.L. 118 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
To increase the pay of assessors and other oflficers of Somerset county.
Act 99 of 1869 · P.L. 119 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
Fixing the time of the commencement of the official term of the sheriff of Allegheny county.
Act 100 of 1869 · P.L. 119 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
Fixing the number of collectors of taxes in each of the cities of Meadville and Titusville, in the county of Crawford.
Act 101 of 1869 · P.L. 120 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
To repeal a part of the second section of an act, entitled "A further supplement to the road laws of Bradford county," approved February twentj' -seventh, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty
Act 102 of 1869 · P.L. 121 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act relative to roads and public highways Fulton and Salisbury townships, in Lancaster county," approved March sixteenth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, extending the same to Providence township, in said county.
Act 103 of 1869 · P.L. 121 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
Authorizing the road commissioners of Spring Creek township, Warren county, to levy an additional road tax.
Act 104 of 1869 · P.L. 122 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
No. 1(,6. Entitled "An Act to extend the provisions of the second section of an act, entitled 'An Act relative to the appointment of an additional notary public in the county of Lancaster, and authorizing an acting justice of the peace to hold said appointment,' to the township of "Warwick, in said county.
Act of 1869 · P.L. 123 · 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the school directors of the township of Banks, in the county of Carbon, to borrow money.
Act 105 of 1869 · P.L. 123 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act authorizing the school direi'tors of the South ward of the city of Meadville to borrow money, approved tlie twenty-first day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight liundred and sixty-six.
Act 101 of 1869 · P.L. 124 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
Authorizing the burgess and town council of the borough of Etna, in Allegheny county, to borrow money and levy a speeial tax for borough purposes.
Act 108 of 1869 · P.L. 125 · February 5, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplementary to an act incorporating the Mechanicsburg Gas and Water Company of Cumberland county, passed the fifth day of May, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Act 109 of 1869 · P.L. 125 · February 8, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize and empower Mary Reinert, widow of John Reinert, late of Berks county, deceased, to sell certain real estate.
Act 110 of 1869 · P.L. 126 · February 10, 1869 · Scanned page
To change the burden of proof in reference to wills, et cetera, heretofore admitted to probate by the several registers of wills in and for the county of Lebanon, to which nuncupative probates have been attached.
Act 111 of 1869 · P.L. 127 · February 10, 1869 · Scanned page
Providing for the construction of a side-walk on the north side of Main street, in the North district of Wilkesbarre township, in Luzerne county, between North street and Kulp avenue.
Act 112 of 1869 · P.L. 128 · February 10, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Empire Passenger Railway Company of Philadelphia.
Act 113 of 1869 · P.L. 130 · February 10, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Trustees of the Proprietors' school fund of Providence, in the county of Luzerne.
Act 114 of 1869 · P.L. 132 · February 10, 1869 · Scanned page
To vacate parts of Water street and Commercial street and Canal basin, in the harbor of Erie, in the city of Erie.
Act 115 of 1869 · P.L. 134 · 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled ".\nAct to enable the school directors of the Fifth ward of the city of Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny, to borrow money," approved the sixth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Act 116 of 1869 · P.L. 134 · February 10, 1869 · Scanned page
To repeal the second section of an act relative to election precincts in Allegheny county, approved February twenty-eighth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Act 117 of 1869 · P.L. 135 · February 11, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to incorporate the callage of South Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton, into a borough.
Act 118 of 1869 · P.L. 136 · February 11, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the school directors of Salisbury borough, Somerset county, to borrow money.
Act 119 of 1869 · P.L. 137 · February 11, 1869 · Scanned page
Relative to the Pittston Ferry Bridge Company, in the county of Luzerne.
Act 120 of 1869 · P.L. 138 · February 11, 1869 · Scanned page
Authorizing the Columbia Water Company to borrow money.
Act 121 of 1869 · P.L. 139 · February 11, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act giving tlie assent of this Commonwealth to the act of the legislature of New Jersey, entitled 'An Act to incorporate the Columbia Delaware Bridge Company,' approved June twenty -fourth, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.
Act 122 of 1869 · P.L. 140 · February 11, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Masonic Publishing Company of Philadelphia.
Act 123 of 1869 · P.L. 140 · February 11, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act amending the charter of the municipal oorporation of the city of Lancaster, and dividing the same into nine wards," approved April fifth, Anno Domini one thousand eiglit hundred and sixty-seven.
Act 124 of 1869 · P.L. 141 · February 11, 1869 · Scanned page
To expedite the settlement of the estate of Samuel Hegarty, of Clearfield county, deceased, and to authorize sale of his real estate.
Act 126 of 1869 · P.L. 144 · February 11, 1869 · Scanned page
To permit Israel T. Knoll to peddle in the county of Berks.
Act 127 of 1869 · P.L. 145 · February 12, 1869 · Scanned page
Authorizing the appointment of six additional notaries public for Allegheny county, and one in the county of Dauphin.
Act 128 of 1869 · P.L. 146 · February 12, 1869 · Scanned page
To enable tiie borough of Huntingdon to borrow money and issue bonds, and also to increase the rate of taxation in said borough.
Act of 1869 · P.L. 147 · February 12, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplementary to the act incorporating the ^rechaniosburg Hall and Market Company, passed the twenty -fourth day of March, Ann© Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixtr-five.
Act of 1869 · P.L. 147 · February 12, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Wheatly Dramatic Association.
Act 131 of 1869 · P.L. 148 · February 12, 1869 · Scanned page
For incorporating the Co-operative Life Insurance Company of W^estern Pennsylvania.
Act 132 of 1869 · P.L. 149 · February 12, 1869 · Scanned page
Consolidating the wards of the city of Pittsburg for educational purposes.
Act 133 of 1869 · P.L. 150 · 1869 · Scanned page
To legitimate Elizabeth K. Kauffman, and confer upon her the rights and privileges of a child born in lawful wedlock.
Act 134 of 1869 · P.L. 163 · February 13, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Press Club of
Act 135 of 1869 · P.L. 164 · February 13, 1869 · 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.