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
Regulating the courts of Elair county.
Act 5 of 1853 · January 18, 1853 · Scanned page
Relative to the collection of taxes in Mercer and Beaver counties, and relating to the American telegraph company.
Act 6 of 1853 · January 19, 1853 · Scanned page
To authorize the Little Saw Mill Run railroad company; and the Birmingham anu Elizabeth turnpike road company to borrow money.
Act 7 of 1853 · January 19, 1853 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to incorporate the Temperanceville and Noblestown turnpike and plank road company, passed the seventh of April, one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
Act 8 of 1853 · January 19, 1853 · Scanned page
Relating to the borough of Towanda, in the county of Bradford.
Act 9 of 1853 · January 19, 1853 · Scanned page
To authorize the Northampton water company to borrow money.
Act 10 of 1853 · January 19, 1853 · Scanned page
Relative to election officers in Carbon county, and fixing the place.of holding elections in Allen township, Washington county.
Act 11 of 1853 · January 25, 1853 · Scanned page
Authorizing the burgess and town council of the borough of Hollidaysburg to subscribe to the Hollidaysburg and Aitoona plank road coinpany.
Act 12 of 1853 · January 25, 1853 · Scanned page
Regulating certain election districts.
Act 13 of 1853 · January 25, 1853 · Scanned page
Authorizing the Canal Commissioners to purchase new Locomotives.
Resolution 1 of 1853 · P.L. 687 · February 8, 1853 · Scanned page
Authorizing the Stale Treasurer to pay George Bergner for printing Daily Record.
Resolution 2 of 1853 · P.L. 688 · February 8, 1853 · Scanned page
Relative to ilio publication of ilie School Laws of the Commonwealth, and the (k'cisions thereon.
Resolution 4 of 1853 · P.L. 689 · March 14, 1853 · Scanned page
For holding a Convention to allot the Pnbli • Printing.
Resolution 5 of 1853 · P.L. 689 · March 14, 1853 · Scanned page
Relative to the printing of the Daily Legislative Record.
Resolution 6 of 1853 · P.L. 690 · March 22, 1853 · Scanned page
Eelative to the distribution of the Colonial Records and Pennsylvania At'
Resolution 8 of 1853 · P.L. 692 · April 18, 1853 · Scanned page
Act incorporating the Oscola Plank Road Company, and for other purposes - amend - relating to assessments and assessors in Tioga county
Act 1 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act providing for the publication of the Colonial Records, and other original papers in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth - amend - Samuel Hazard appointed and continued editor of Pennsylvania Archives and his salary
Act 2 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Changing the place of holding Elections in the township of Canton, county of Bradford
Act 3 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the North Lebanon Railroad Company
Act 4 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the borough of East Mauch Chunk
Act 5 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Authorizing the board of School Directors of the borough of Washington in Washington county, to borrow money
Act 6 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the State Library and Librarian
Act 7 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act incorporating the Monongahela Navigation Company - amend - extend works; increase capital; issue stock; tolls; subscriptions legalized; annual meetings of stockholders
Act 8 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Northern Home for Friendless Children
Act 9 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the subscribers to the articles of association, for the purpose of establishing an institution for the confinement and reformation of youthful delinquents, under the title of The House of Refuge - amend - infants under 21 years to be re
Act 10 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Honesdale Cemetery Company
Act 11 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Regulating certain Election Districts
Act 12 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Merchants' Fund
Act 13 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To annul the charter of the Franklin Canal Company
Act 14 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Legalizing certain resolutions and appropriations, made by the Commissioners of Warren county, to a certain Bridge across the Conewango creek at Russelsburg, in said county
Act 15 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the City of Philadelphia - amend - wards; establish election divisions; legislative power vested in select and common councils; election, qualification, and duties of mayor; duties of officers; law office to be established
Act 16 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act incorporating the Phoenix Iron and Coal company - amend - name changed to the Union Iron and Coal Company; location of land; additional land may be held; construct a railroad
Act 17 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Regulating certain Election Districts in certain counties
Act 18 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Regulating certain Election Districts
Act 19 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the account of William C. M'Cormick
Act 20 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Charter of the Allentown Iron Company - amend - increase capital stock
Act 21 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Authorizing the committee of John Hershey to purchase Real Estate
Act 22 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to a Bridge in Montgomery county
Act 23 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Authorizing the Canal Commissioners to examine the claim of George L. Hazlette, of Allegheny county, for damages, etc.
Act 24 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To revive and continue in force the law graduating lands upon which purchase money is due the Commonwealth, and to extend the time for patenting in-lots and out lots in the towns of Erie, Waterford, Beaver, Franklin and Warren
Act 25 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act incorporating the Wiconisco Canal Company - amend - increase the tolls on coal
Act 26 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Kishacoquillas Mutual Fire Insurance Company
Act 27 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Pittsburgh Female College
Act 28 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To confirm the title to certain Real Estate in the district of Spring Garden and county of Philadelphia
Act 29 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To consolidate and amend the Road Laws of the counties of Beaver, Butler and Lawrence
Act 30 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To confer on Mary Amelia Trauger the rights and privileges of a child born in lawful wedlock
Act 31 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Authorizing the school directors of Pottstown to borrow money
Act 32 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Richland Turnpike or Plank Road Company
Act 33 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the James Page Library Company of Kensington
Act 34 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Authorizing the Governor to incorporate the Chess Spring Plank Road Company
Act 35 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Commonwealth Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania
Act 36 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To authorize the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to make connections to and from their Freight Depot, in the City of Philadelphia
Act 37 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Providing for Motive Power expenses on the Allegheny Portage Railroad
Act 38 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To authorize the Commissioners of Erie county to borrow money
Act 39 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Regulating and equalizing the width of Green street from Broad to Fairmont streets, Spring Garden, county of Philadelphia
Act 40 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Pennsylvania Mutual Live Stock Insurance Company - amend - name changed to Pennsylvania Insurance Company of Pittsburgh; powers and privileges; capital stock; division of property insured; punishment for embezzlement
Act 41 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Pennsylvania Railroad Company - amend - filing of a bond; right of company to take property
Act 42 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to revise and continue in force the law graduating lands upon which purchase money is due the Commonwealth; and to extend the time for patenting in-lots and out-lots in the towns of Erie, Waterford, Beaver, Franklin and Warren - amend - county
Act 43 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Schuylkill Haven Mutual Life and Health Insurance Company of Schuylkill Haven - amend - name changed to Miners' Life Insurance and Trust Company; receive monies in trust; not to exercise banking privileges
Act 44 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act incorporating the Pottsville Water Company - amend - commissioners; powers and privileges; annual elections; rights to enter upon lands and dig ditches; accounts of treasurer; subscription to capital stock; punishment for injury to works; commencement
Act 45 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act relative to the Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital - amend - county shall be chargeable with expense of care and maintenance
Act 46 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the several Courts in the tenth judicial district
Act 47 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act relating to certain road laws in Washington County - repeal
Act 48 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
In relation to spirituous and vinous Liquors in Washington county
Act 49 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the Expenses incurred, by the visit of the Members of the Legislature and Heads of Department of the State of Maryland
Act 50 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to suits in Dower and Partition
Act 51 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the appointment of Notaries Public
Act 52 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Authorizing Courts of Common Pleas to incorporate Scientific, Agricultural and other Associations
Act 53 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to alter the road laws in the township of Lenox - amend - monies collected; supervisors to open new roads, make repairs, and draw orders on treasurer; number of districts not to be limited; authority to levy a tax
Act 54 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Appropriating certain moneys to the Rosine Association
Act 55 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to authorize the Commissioners of Clarion county to settle the account of Richard Wilson, deceased, for the erection of a bridge over the Clarion river, near the mouth of Little Toby creek, in the county of Clarion, and for other purposes - repeal - s
Act 56 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Regulating the time of holding the election for officers of the Lackawanna and Susquehanna Railroad company
Act 57 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
For the relief of Samuel Lemon, of Blair county
Act 58 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate a company to make a Plank Road from Johnstown, Cambria county, to Shade Furnace, in Somerset county
Act 59 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Providing for the repair of the Olean road in Indiana county
Act 60 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Columbia Gas Company - amend - increase capital
Act 61 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the People's Mutual Insurance Company
Act 62 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Associated Fireman's Insurance Company of the city of Pittsburgh - amend - number of directors required to be delegates to the Firemen's association
Act 63 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Regulating the Tolls of the Wellsboro' and Tioga Plank Road Company
Act 64 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
For the relief of Catharine Hahn, the widow of an old soldier
Act 65 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act incorporating the Canton and Athens Railroad Company - amend - construct and connect railroad
Act 66 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To authorize the Canal Commissioners to examine the claim of Andrew Getty for damages sustained on the Columbia and Philadelphia railroad
Act 67 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Changing the place of holding Elections in certain townships in Indiana and Luzerne counties
Act 68 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relating to certain Elections and Election Districts
Act 69 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Regulating certain Election Districts
Act 108 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Authorizing the election of Four Supervisors in Washington township, Indiana county, and in Plum Creek township, Armstrong county
Act 109 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relative to the Collection of Taxes in Lancaster township, in the county of Lancaster
Act 110 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relating to the estate of Hugh Scott and others
Act 111 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Pittsburgh and Connelsville Railroad Company - amend - appointment of a jury by the court of common pleas shall apply to all cases of damages
Act 112 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to erect the town of Bethany, in the county of Wayne, into a borough - amend - relating to sidewalks
Act 113 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to authorize the Governor to incorporate the Delaware County Turnpike Road Company - amend - authority to vary route of road; increase of loans
Act 114 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to erect Montoursville, in the county of Lycoming, into a borough - amend - election of town council; appointment of high constables
Act 115 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act incorporating the Manheim, Petersburg, and Lancaster Plank Road Company, in Lancaster county - amend - collect toll
Act 116 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relating to certain Election Districts
Act 117 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To incorporate the Franklin Plank Road Company
Act 118 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
To prevent the Obstruction of the Cowanisque Creek
Act 119 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
For the relief of Andrew Christy, an Old Soldier
Act 120 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to appoint commissioners to run and mark the county lines between Bedford, Fulton and Huntingdon - amend - house in which Frederick Dubbs resides to be entirely in Fulton county
Act 121 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Relating to Official Seals
Act 122 of 1854 · 1854 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Cleveland and Mahoning Railroad Company - amend - assent of Commonwealth given to Ohio law; county of Lawrence authorized to subscribe stock; connections
Act 123 of 1854 · 1854 · 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.