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.
3,241 laws of the 1840s
Constitution of 1838
Concerning sentences of convicts
Act 86 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To change the venue in certain cases
Act 87 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To erect parts of Lower Mahantongo township, in the county of Schuylkill, into a separate school district
Act 88 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Philadelphia ice company, and for other purposes - amend - privileges of the directors of the Globe insurance, Trust and Annuity company increased
Act 89 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Relative to roads and bridges in the county of Armstrong
Act 90 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To confirm the title of John S. Miller to certain real estate
Act 91 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Authorizing certain cases to be certified from the court of common pleas, to the district court of Allegheny county
Act 92 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Relative to the school district in Manor township, Lancaster county
Act 93 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize Philip Metzgar, Peter Long, and David Longenecker, trustees of the "German Reformed congregation of the borough (now city) of Lancaster," to sell and convey real estate
Act 94 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Relating to assessors in the counties of Berks and Luzerne
Act 95 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Buckingham and Doylestown turnpike road company - amend - time when road may be inspected; borrow money; execute a mortgage to trustees; annual election; time for performing duties
Act 96 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Regulating election districts
Act 97 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize Samuel Eberly, committee of Leah Wechter, lunatic, of Lancaster county, to convey certain real estate
Act 98 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Relating to the road and bridge laws of Butler county
Act 99 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Authorizing the burgesses and town council of the borough of Wrightsville, in the county of York, to provide a lock-up house
Act 100 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act incorporating the Philadelphia college of medicine - amend - powers increased
Act 101 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act incorporating the Philadelphia college of medicine - amend - powers increased
Act 102 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize the president, managers and company of the Schuylkill Valley navigation and railroad company, to increase their capital stock
Act 103 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To appoint commissioners for the purpose of keeping in good order and repair that part of the East and West state road, west of Fayette Corners, in the county of M'Kean, and for other purposes
Act 104 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Meadville theological school - amend - classification of members of the board; tenure; power to diminish number of board
Act 105 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To confirm the title of Isaac B. Overholzer, to certain real estate
Act 106 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize Richard Donaldson to collect certain outstanding tax in the township of Robinson, in the county of Washington
Act 107 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Relating to election districts
Act 108 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Relating to Irish Tract lane and Wharton street, in the township of Moyamensing, and to change the name of a certain street in the district of Southwark
Act 109 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Relating to arbitrations
Act 110 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To confer on Hannah Elizabeth Cresswell, the rights and privileges of a child born in lawful wedlock
Act 111 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To exempt a certain part of the West-town school property, in the county of Chester, from taxation for county and school purposes
Act 112 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To enable the trustees of Hannah Jones, Margaret Pollin and Catharine Parke, to sell certain real estate
Act 113 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To vest certain property in the children of Catharine Tripple, of the city of Lancaster, deceased
Act 114 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To vest certain property in the children of Catharine Tripple, of the city of Lancaster, deceased
Act 115 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To vacate Master's lane from Eighth to Tenth street, in Penn township, in the county of Philadelphia, and for other purposes
Act 116 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To confer on Chester Belding the rights and privileges of a child born in lawful wedlock
Act 117 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To incorporate the Penn mutual life insurance company
Act 118 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act relating to roads, highways and bridges, in the counties of Warren, Venango, M'Kean, and for other purposes - amend - rates of taxation in Warren county increased for road and bridge purposes; repair bridge over Brokenstraw creek
Act 119 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act concerning strays - amend - extended to Potter county
Act 120 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Acts of general assembly respecting auctions and auctioneers - amend - mode of proceeding against violation of auction laws; attorney general to prepare bill of indictment; compensation
Act 121 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act to encourage the manufacture of iron with coke or mineral coal, and for other purposes - amend - Lehigh Crane iron works may hold certain tracts of land
Act 122 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize the trustees of Agnes M. Mahon, to sell or mortgage certain real estate
Act 123 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act to amend the road laws of Erie county, and for other purposes - amend - road commissioners of Fairview township, Erie county, to collect certain road tax
Act 124 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize the county commissioners of Armstrong and Clarion counties, to build and keep in repair a bridge over Red Bank creek
Act 125 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Authorizing Allen M'Kean, Charles T. Merry and Maria Vanderhoff, to convey certain real estate
Act 126 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Declaring the streets and alleys in the village of New Lisbon, in Greene county, public highways
Act 127 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To legalize divorces granted by the courts
Act 128 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Relative to bridges in Lancaster county
Act 129 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
For the relief William P. and Samuel Brady
Act 130 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Requiring the inspectors of prisons, sheriffs, prothonotaries and clerks of criminal courts and others, to make annual returns to the secretary of the commonwealth, and for other purposes
Act 131 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize John Blackfan, executor of Joseph Dilworth, and administrator of William Dilworth, deceased, to convey to the commonwealth a certain lock-house and lot of land, in Bucks county
Act 132 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize George Mish to sell and convey certain real estate
Act 133 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Authorizing the laying out of a state road from New Castle, in Mercer county, thence to Rockville, thence to West Liberty, thence to Sunbury, thence to North Washington, thence to Fairview, all in Butler county, thence to the Great Western iron works, in
Act 134 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act to authorize the governor to incorporate the Delaware and Susquehanna railroad company - amend - time extended; additional commissioners; compensation for property
Act 135 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Relative to the Girard college for orphans
Act 136 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act in relation to the duties of county auditors in the county of Potter, and for other purposes - amend - auditors appointed to settle business of Mahoning township, Indiana county
Act 137 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To incorporate the district of Richmond, in the county of Philadelphia
Act 138 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Authorizing the commissioners of the township of Brokenstraw, in the county of Warren, to erect a bridge across the Brokenstraw creek, at the village of Youngsville
Act 139 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Relative to the estate of Isaac Harman, late of Fayette county
Act 140 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Relative to elections for constable in Allen township, Cumberland county
Act 141 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
For the relief of Thomas M'Namara
Act 142 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Concerning the Cumberland Blues, a volunteer corps of infantry in Greene county, and the Harrison Rangers of Lebanon county
Act 143 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
For the relief of John Waldron and company
Act 144 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To change the name and grade of a rifle company in Lehigh county, and of the Independent Rifle Greens, in Bucks county
Act 145 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize Stephen Kimball, trustee under the will of Catharine Hollingshead, to improve certain real estate
Act 146 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize Ann Robbins, executrix, and Charles Harbert, executor of Enoch Robbins, late of the county of Philadelphia, deceased, and trustees under his will, to sell and convey certain real estate, and apply the proceeds
Act 147 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Relative to testamentary trustees in the city and county of Philadelphia
Act 148 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To punish and prevent frauds in the use of false stamps and labels
Act 149 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To alter the road laws in the township of Lenox, in the county of Susquehanna, and for other purposes
Act 150 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To confer certain authority upon the commissioners of Columbia county
Act 151 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Relating to the claim of John Gest against the county of Philadelphia
Act 152 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize the school directors of the township of Penn, Chester county, to sell certain real estate
Act 153 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act to authorize the governor to incorporate the Falls of Schuylkill bridge company, over the river Schuylkill, at said falls - amend - duties of commissioners
Act 154 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To annul the charter of the Lehigh County Bank
Act 155 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act to authorize the trustees of the Calvanistic Independents to convey certain real estate in the borough of Minersville, Schuylkill county
Act 156 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Authorizing the commissioners of the county of Philadelphia, to cause Passyunk road to be paved from Federal street to the Philadelphia county prison
Act 157 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act relating to the directors of the poor of Lancaster county - amend - act relating to the poor, extended to York county
Act 158 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To prevent kidnapping, preserve the public peace, prohibit the exercise of certain powers heretofore exercised by judges, justices of the peace, aldermen and jailors in this commonwealth, and to repeal certain slave laws
Act 159 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Concerning the removal of the seat of justice in Delaware county
Act 160 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act taxing dogs in certain counties, as relates to taxing dogs in the several townships in Butler county, and relative to the taxing of dogs in West Middleton, in the county of Washington - repeal - part of section 5
Act 161 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act as relates to the division of West Pennsborough township, in Cumberland county - repeal
Act 162 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To lay out a state road from the borough of New Castle to the road leading from Edenburg to Mahingtown, at a point where said road crosses the line between Beaver and Mercer counties, and for other purposes
Act 163 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act to incorporate the North Branch canal company - amend - time extended
Act 164 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act to incorporate the borough of Manayunk, and to separate the township of Roxborough therefrom - amend - elect an assessor; council to assess road and poor taxes; elect council and school directors; auditors to settle accounts; managers of the poor auth
Act 165 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To define and punish the offence of bribery
Act 166 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Relative to the Juniata bridge
Act 167 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize the recording of a certain power of attorney, executed by Pierce Connelly and wife
Act 168 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
In relation to the Lewisberg and Youngstown turnpike road
Act 169 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize Jacob N. Miller to sell and convey certain real estate
Act 170 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Requiring banks and other corporations to give notice of unclaimed dividends, deposits and balances in certain cases
Act 171 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To incorporate the borough of Titusville, in the county of Crawford
Act 172 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Clifford and Carbondale turnpike road company, and so forth - amend - extend to Lanesboro' turnpike; tolls to be charged
Act 173 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To divide certain wards, in the city of Philadelphia, into election precincts
Act 174 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Mount Union cemetery - amend - trustees incorporated; hold real and personal estate; no street to be laid out through a cemetery
Act 175 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Relative to trustees under the will of Joseph Parker Norris, deceased
Act 176 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act incorporating the directors of the poor for the county of Erie - amend - poor entitled to relief to be admitted; directors to take charge of a tract of land
Act 177 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize the clerk of the orphans' court of York county, to execute a deed for real estate of John Gardner, deceased, to Michael Doudel
Act 178 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize the court of quarter sessions of the county of Centre, to decree a portion of the stock subscribed by the township of Haines, in the Bald Eagle, Nittany, Brush and Penn's Valley turnpike road company, to the township of Penn, in said county -
Act 179 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act to establish the University of Lewisburg - amend - time for curators meeting extended to two years
Act 180 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Providing for the election of a wood corder within the borough of Lebanon
Act 181 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Incorporating the guardians of the poor of the city of Pittsburg
Act 182 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Confirming the title of certain lands in Bradford county
Act 183 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
To authorize the guardian of the minor children of Joseph M'Mackin and Elizabeth, his wife, to sell certain real estate
Act 184 of 1847 · 1847 · Original text
Act erecting Blair county - amend - exemplified copies of records to be recorded in recorder's office
Act 185 of 1847 · 1847 · 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.