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 incorporate the Wilkesbarre and Kingston Baggage Express Company.
Act 473 of 1869 · P.L. 493 · 1869 · Scanned page
Authorizing the city of Allegheny to issue water bonds.
Act 474 of 1869 · P.L. 494 · March 22, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Western Oil and Pipe Compstny.
Act 475 of 1869 · P.L. 495 · March 22, 1869 · Scanned page
To a supplement of the fourth section of an act, approved the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, entitled "An Act relative to Allegheny city," approved April first, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Act of 1869 · P.L. 498 · 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act regulating turnpike and plank road companies, approved January twenty -sixth, one thousand eight hundred and forty -nine, so far as relates to the county of Juniata.
Act 478 of 1869 · P.L. 500 · March 24, 1869 · Scanned page
Relative to a certain ordinance of the city of
Act 479 of 1869 · P.L. 501 · March 24, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act incorporating the borougli of Mount Washington, in the county of Allegheny, approved the twelfth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty
Act 480 of 1869 · P.L. 502 · March 24, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Wilson Female College.
Act 481 of 1869 · P.L. 504 · March 24, 1869 · Scanned page
Authorizing the trustees of the United Presbyterian church of Tarentum, in the county of Allegheny, to remove the dead from their church yard to a suitable place in Prospect cemetery, near Tarentum.
Act 482 of 1869 · P.L. 505 · March 24, 1869 · Scanned page
To provide for the collection of taxes for the various boroughs, wards and townsliips of the county of Erie.
Act 483 of 1869 · P.L. 506 · March 24, 1869 · Scanned page
In relation to the collection of State mercantile licenses by the treasurers of the city of Pittsburg and county of Allegheny.
Act 484 of 1869 · P.L. 509 · 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company to declare stock dividends.
Act 485 of 1869 · P.L. 510 · 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the Western Maryland Railroad Company, a corporation created by act? of the General Assembly of Maryland, to construct and operate a portion of the railroad of the said company within the limits of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Act 486 of 1869 · P.L. 510 · 1869 · Scanned page
Relating to the courts of Venango county.
Act 487 of 1869 · P.L. 511 · March 24, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Fidelity Insurance, Trust and Safe Deposit Company of the city of Philadelphia, passed the twenty -second day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, defining and extending the trust powers of said company, and authorizing it to act as surety.
Act 488 of 1869 · P.L. 512 · March 24, 1869 · Scanned page
Giving the right to the town council of the borough of Mauch Chunk to build drains and sewers, and to file liens for the building of the same.
Act 489 of 1869 · P.L. 513 · March 24, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act to incorporate the Dolhir Savings Bank of Uniontown, approved the fourth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight liundred and sixty-five.
Act 400 of 1869 · P.L. 515 · March 24, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Bushkill and Walpack Bridge Company.
Act 491 of 1869 · P.L. 516 · 1869 · Scanned page
In relation to the Williamsport and Canada Lumber Company.
Act 492 of 1869 · P.L. 517 · 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to enable the South ward, in the city of Chester, to procure a supply of water.'
Act 495 of 1869 · P.L. 519 · March 24, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the oommisRioners of Erie county to open the accounts of James Foreman, deceased, and E. P. Foreman, late collectors of Corry, Erie county, and authorizing certain exonerations to be made therein.
Act of 1869 · P.L. 520 · 1869 · Scanned page
To iuoorponito the Bucks and Montgomery Telegraph Company.
Act 408 of 1869 · P.L. 523 · March 24, 1869 · Scanned page
To annul the marriage contract between Andrew M'EIwain and Emma Jane, his wife.
Act 499 of 1869 · P.L. 524 · March 24, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to incorporate the Philadelphia County Real Estate Association.
Act 501 of 1869 · P.L. 526 · March 24, 1869 · Scanned page
To annul the marriage contract between H. iSIower and Mary, his wife. Section- 1.
Act 503 of 1869 · P.L. 528 · March 25, 1869 · Scanned page
To vacate a part of a four feet wide alley in the borough of Pottsville.
Act 504 of 1869 · P.L. 529 · March 25, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Eastern Fraternal Life Insurance Company of Pennsylvania.
Act 505 of 1869 · P.L. 529 · March 25, 1869 · Scanned page
Relating to the sale of lands for taxes in Fayette county. Sectiox 1.
Act 501 of 1869 · P.L. 531 · March 25, 1869 · Scanned page
Authorizing the commissioners of the county of Schuylkill to receive the returns of the school, road and county tax collectors of Washington township, and the school and road tax collecter of Branch township, Schuylkill county, within sixty days after the passage of this act.
Act 508 of 1869 · P.L. 532 · March 25, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplementary to the several acts incorporating the borough of Mechanicsburg, in the county of Cumberland.
Act 509 of 1869 · P.L. 533 · March 25, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act to incorporte the Cumberland Valley Mutual Protection Company of Dickinson township.
Act 510 of 1869 · P.L. 533 · 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the register's court of Greene county to hear the proof of the last will and testament of Thomas Calvert, late of said county, deceased.
Act 511 of 1869 · P.L. 535 · March 26, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to incorporate the Western Insurance and Transportation Company, approved the twenty-second day of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Act 512 of 1869 · P.L. 536 · March 26, 1869 · Scanned page
Authorizing the school board of Bensalem township, Bucks county, to hold certain school property.
Act 513 of 1869 · P.L. 537 · March 26, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the Second and Third Street Passenger Railway Company of Philadelphia to sell or let certain real estate.
Act 514 of 1869 · P.L. 538 · 1869 · Scanned page
Relative to committing magistrates of Lebanon, Daupliin, Adams and Franklin counties.
Act 515 of 1869 · P.L. 539 · March 26, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Philadelphia Oystermen's Association of the city of Philadelphia.
Act 516 of 1869 · P.L. 540 · March 26, 1869 · Scanned page
For the relief of John Conner, a soldier of the war of one thousand eight hundred and twelve.
Act 517 of 1869 · P.L. 541 · 1869 · Scanned page
To regulate the election of election officers in the Lockport election district, in the county of Erie.
Act 518 of 1869 · P.L. 542 · March 26, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act, approved tlie seventeenth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, to incorporate the Gettysburg Lythia Springs Association.
Act 519 of 1869 · P.L. 542 · March 26, 1869 · Scanned page
To exempt the mortgage and bonds of the Bloomaburg Literary Institute, issued for the purpose of erecting State Normal school buildings, from taxation.
Act 520 of 1869 · P.L. 543 · March 26, 1869 · Scanned page
Incorporating the Laporte and Thornedale Plank Road Company.
Act 521 of 1869 · P.L. 544 · 1869 · Scanned page
Authorizing the borough of Laporte, in the county of Sullivan, to i levy a tax of twelve mills on the dollar of valuation for borough I purposes.
Act 522 of 1869 · P.L. 545 · March 26, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the Auditor General and State Treasurer to open and re-| settle the account of James Coyne, late treasurer of Elk county.
Act of 1869 · P.L. 546 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
Toauthorize the Wilmington anrl Reading Kailroad Company to raise; money by mortgage to buil<i any branch or lateral railroad authori ized by their charter not exceeding nine miles in length.
Act 523 of 1869 · P.L. 546 · March 26, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to provide for tho erection of a poor house for the better relief and employment of the poor in the townships of Oxford and Lower Dublin, in the county of Philadelphia, approved April eleventh, one thousand eight hundred and seven, authorizing the directors of said poor house to borrow money.
Act 527 of 1869 · P.L. 550 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
To prevent cattle, horses, mules, sheep, goats and swine from running at large in the townships of Sugar Grove and Freehold, in the county of Warren, and Plum township, Venango county.
Act 528 of 1869 · P.L. 550 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the school directors of the borough of Schellsburg, Bedford county, to borrow money.
Act 529 of 1869 · P.L. 552 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
Authorizing and empowering James Hughes, of Franklin city, "Venango county, to make return of arrears of taxes for the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Act 530 of 1869 · P.L. 552 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act relating to the collection of state and county taxes in the county of Chester, approved the second day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Act 531 of 1869 · P.L. 553 · 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act incorporating tlie borough of Millvale, defining its bouu- ' daries, et cetera.
Act 534 of 1869 · P.L. 555 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to prevent fishing with seines, and to protect bass fish in the Raystown Branch of the Juniata river and its tributaries, and the Susquehanna river, in the county of Dauphin.
Act of 1869 · P.L. 557 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
To exempt from taxation certain real estate known as Pennsylvania Hall, in the township of Bristol and county of Paicks, belonging to and used and occupied by the school homes for the orphans of colored soldiers and sailors.
Act 538 of 1869 · P.L. 558 · 1869 · Scanned page
Regulating the daily pay of witnesses and jurors in Northumberland county.
Act 539 of 1869 · P.L. 559 · 1869 · Scanned page
Relating to the assessment of city taxes in the city of Meadville.
Act 540 of 1869 · P.L. 560 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
Regulating the width of Brandywine street, in the Fifteenth ward of the city of Philadelphia, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets, and fixing the line of the same, in conformity with the balance thereof, at forty feet.
Act 541 of 1869 · P.L. 560 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
Delating to the compensation of the county commissioners of the county of Monroe.
Act 542 of 1869 · P.L. 561 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
To amend an act creating an independent district out of parts mI' Erie and Crawford counties.
Act 543 of 1869 · P.L. 561 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
Giving a bounty on fox scalps in the county of Dauphin,
Act 544 of 1869 · P.L. 562 · 1869 · Scanned page
To provide for the recording of certain proceedings in partition in the court of common pleas of Delaware county.
Act 545 of 1869 · P.L. 563 · 1869 · Scanned page
Ro establish and maintain a law library in the county of Lebanon.
Act 546 of 1869 · P.L. 563 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the Governor to appoint additional notaries public in the counties of Tioga and Philadelphia.
Act 547 of 1869 · P.L. 565 · 1869 · Scanned page
Declaring Willie an adopted son and heir of William E. and Elmina C. Carr, of Philadelphia.
Act 548 of 1869 · P.L. 565 · 1869 · Scanned page
Granting a pension to Francis Johnston, Senior, of Armstrong county.
Act 550 of 1869 · P.L. 567 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the boards of school directors of the Nineteenth and Twenty-first wards of the city of Pittsburg to borrow money and levy a special tax for building purposes.
Act 551 of 1869 · P.L. 567 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Mount Zion Baptist church of Philadelphia.
Act 5 of 1869 · P.L. 568 · 1869 · Scanned page
To validate tbe acts of J. W. Green, justice of the peace for Snyder township, Jefferson county, Pennsylvania.
Act 553 of 1869 · P.L. 569 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Lykens Valley Mutual Fire Insurance Company, approved May fifth, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty
Act 554 of 1869 · P.L. 570 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the Harmony Society to carry their oil across the AUel gheny river.
Act 556 of 1869 · P.L. 572 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
To enable the school directors of the township of Pine, in Armstrong county, to pay the bounty indebtedness of said township. Authorized to
Act 557 of 1869 · P.L. 573 · 1869 · Scanned page
To provide for the payment of the damages awarded the Armstrong County Agricultural Society and the executors of David Reynolds, deceased, George Dodd, John Gilpin and W. F.
Act 558 of 1869 · P.L. 574 · March 27, 1869 · Scanned page
To repeal an act authorizing the board of school directors of the township of Wheatfield, in the county of Perry, to levy and collect an additional bounty tax, approved the tenth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Act 561 of 1869 · P.L. 576 · 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Quakertown and Sollersville Tnrupike Koad Compan}%" approved the fifteenth dav of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty
Act 562 of 1869 · P.L. 577 · March 30, 1869 · Scanned page
To exempt the trustees of Pennsylvania College, of Gettysburg, in the county of Adams, from the pa^^ment of collateral inheritance tax on stock bequeathed under the will of Davis Pearson, deceased.
Act 563 of 1869 · P.L. 578 · March 30, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act incorporating the president, managers and company of the York and Couewago ('anal Turnpike Road, approved the second day of March, one thousand eight hundred and nine.
Act 564 of 1869 · P.L. 578 · March 30, 1869 · Scanned page
Xtending so much of the provisions of an act approved April fifth, lone thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, entitled "A supplement to an act to incorporate the city of Allegheny," as relates to [grading, paving, repairing or macadamizing streets, lanes, alleys |and other highways of said city, to the borough of Tarentum, in said county, and repealing so much of. the act of April three,
Act 565 of 1869 · P.L. 579 · March 30, 1869 · Scanned page
To exonerate certain citizens of Jefferson and Marion townships, i&j the countv of Butler, from the paynaent of bounty tax. | Whefeas, Under the bounty laws of said county of Butler : F,c»mwe, j^^^.^^ j^^ ^^^^^ Thomas Greer, Christian Mechlin g,Jame! Wvio-ht. Samuel Patterson, John Blnck, Joseph R. Marshal; and James Black are exempt from the payment ot bounty tax ^ And whereas, The said board
Act 566 of 1869 · P.L. 580 · 1869 · Scanned page
To regulate the compensation of certain officers in the county of Berks. Section" 1.
Act 567 of 1869 · P.L. 581 · March 30, 1869 · Scanned page
To restrict sales by auction in the borough of Huntingdon, in the county of Huntingdon.
Act 568 of 1869 · P.L. 582 · March 30, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the Madera Coal and Improvement Company to sell and convey its unfinished railway.
Act 569 of 1869 · P.L. 583 · March 30, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate tlie Rural Dispatch Company.
Act 570 of 1869 · P.L. 584 · March 31, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act perpetuating and enlarging the corporate powers of the borough of Uniontown, in the county of Fayette, approved the second day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and five.
Act 571 of 1869 · P.L. 585 · March 31, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act in relation to auctioneers in the city of Williamsport, approved the thirteenth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand ei{?ht hundred and sixty-eight.
Act 572 of 1869 · P.L. 587 · March 31, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act relating to the foreclosure and sale of. the New York and Erie Railroad Company," passed the twentysecond day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Act 573 of 1869 · P.L. 587 · 1869 · Scanned page
To annul the marriage contract lietM-oen Elliott Hurlburt and Olive A., his
Act 514 of 1869 · P.L. 589 · March 31, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Western Improvement Company.
Act 575 of 1869 · P.L. 589 · March 31, 1869 · Scanned page
To extoud the provisions of the thirteenth section of an act regulating raih'oad co-ipanies, approved February nineteen, one thousand eighi/ hundred and forty-nine, and also to extend the provisions of the lir=;t section of an act, entitled "A supplement to an.act, entitled 'An Act authorizing the Governor to incorporate the Philadelphiif and Reading Railroad Company-, and its
Act 576 of 1869 · P.L. 591 · April 1, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement To an act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the West Philadelphia Mutual Savings Fund and Trust Company," approved May twentieth, one thousand eight hundred aud tifty-seven, relative to liability of stockholders and increasing par value of shares.
Act 578 of 1869 · P.L. 593 · April 1, 1869 · Scanned page
Declaring certain portions of Mahoning creek, in ttie county of Armstrong, a public highway, and authorizing the making of a towingpath along the bank of the same.
Act 579 of 1869 · P.L. 594 · April 2, 1869 · Scanned page
incorporate the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of West Pennsylvania.
Act 580 of 1869 · P.L. 595 · April 2, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Farmers' and INreohanics' Mercantile Association of Brownsville, Pennsylvania.
Act 581 of 1869 · P.L. 597 · April 2, 1869 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Lancaster City Cornet Band Association.
Act 582 of 1869 · P.L. 598 · April 2, 1869 · Scanned page
To change the width of Front street, in the city of Erie, and straighten the lines thereof, and to vacate Water and Commercial streets, in said city.
Act 583 of 1869 · P.L. 599 · April 2, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to incorporate the Kensington and Oxford Turnpike Road Companj', approved the seventeenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and forty-two, relating to the manner of holding elections and to tolls to be charged by said company.
Act 584 of 1869 · P.L. 601 · April 2, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "Supplement to an act to incorporate the Cream Hill Turnpike Road Company," approved April eleventh, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Act 585 of 1869 · P.L. 602 · April 2, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement To au act to incorporate the Schultzville, Mill City and Tunkhannock Turnpike Road Company, approved the first day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight. Section 1.
Act 586 of 1869 · P.L. 603 · April 2, 1869 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Susquehanna Boom Company," approved March twenty -sixth, one thousand eight hundred and forty-six, authorizing capital stock and bonds, with power to sell and dispose of the same.
Act 587 of 1869 · P.L. 603 · April 2, 1869 · Scanned page
For the incorporation of the State Dental Society of Pennsylvania.
Act 588 of 1869 · P.L. 604 · April 2, 1869 · Scanned page
To authorize the school directors of Hampton township, Allegheny county, to levy and collect a tax to pay James Kelly the commutation money paid by him to fill th» quota of said township.
Act 589 of 1869 · P.L. 606 · April 2, 1869 · Scanned page
3 declare Maple creek, in the county of Forest, a public highway.
Act 590 of 1869 · P.L. 607 · April 2, 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.