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
Relative to the estate of the late James M'Alpin
Act 103 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To erect Hartford, in Crawford county, into a borough
Act 104 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the Newtown and Rocksville turnpike or plank road company
Act 105 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To extend the limits of the borough of Saltsburg
Act 106 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Extending certain road laws in Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties; and in relation to paupers in Northampton, Schuylkill and Somerset counties
Act 107 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the Cawenesque plank road company
Act 108 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Incorporating the Girard academy, and for extending the limits of Girard borough
Act 109 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To supply lost policies of insurance
Act 110 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Relative to the courts in Blair county
Act 111 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Relating to the common schools in the borough of Norristown, in the county of Montgomery
Act 112 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Beaver Meadow railroad and coal company - amend - issue additional stock
Act 113 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the Frankford and Oxford turnpike road company
Act 114 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the Saegertown academy
Act 115 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act incorporating the Washington hall association of the borough and county of York - amend - failure to pay instalment of capital stock
Act 116 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To authorize the administrators of George W. Williams, late of Luzerne county, deceased, to sell certain real estate
Act 117 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act relative to the organization of the courts of justice - amend - time of holding courts in Venango county
Act 118 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To authorize the board of school directors of the school district of Jackson township, Lebanon county, to borrow money; and relative to a school district in Indiana county
Act 119 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Providing for the erection of a lock-up house in Monongahela City, Washington county; and relating to the female seminary in the borough of Cannonsburg
Act 120 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Blair County mutual fire insurance company - amend - organization is valid and effectual
Act 121 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Authorizing the qualified voters of Roxborough township, Philadelphia county, to elect three commissioners to take charge of the public highways in said township; and to divide the Sixth ward, Spring Garden, into two election districts
Act 122 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the Philadelphia and New York steam transportation company
Act 123 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To erect a new township, school and election district in the county of Berks, to be called Perry township; erecting the village of Mount Morris into a separate school district; and authorizing the commissioners of Carbon county to borrow money
Act 124 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
In relation to the debts of Cascade township, Lycoming county
Act 125 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the Greensburg and Mount Pleasant turnpike and plank road company
Act 126 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To authorize the burgess and town council of the borough of West Newton, in the county of Westmoreland, to provide a lock-up house; and relative to the high constable of Mauch Chunk
Act 127 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Authorizing the committee of William Streeper to sell and convey certain real estate
Act 128 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Acts of assembly incorporating the Doylestown and Willow Grove turnpike road company, and the Doylestown and Danborough turnpike road company - amend - authorized to make a road
Act 129 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Authorizing Samuel Gailey to sell certain real estate
Act 130 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To authorize the sale of the real estate of Peter Yenner, deceased
Act 131 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Constituting the town of Hampton, in Adams county, a separate school district
Act 132 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To view and lay out a state road from the Saxonburg road, in Butler county, to the Pittsburg and Freeport road, in Allegheny county
Act 133 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Huntingdon and Broad Top railroad company - amend - per centage; reservation
Act 134 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To authorize the election of additional school directors in the township of Kingsessing, in the county of Philadelphia; and relative to a public school in Smith township, Washington county
Act 135 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To enable the trustees of the Union bucket company of Frankford, to sell certain real estate
Act 136 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act to incorporate the president, managers and company of the Fox Chase and Huntingdon turnpike road company - amend - extending turnpike road
Act 137 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Authorizing John Miller, attorney in fact of Peter Miller and wife, to perfect the titles of certain purchasers of real estate
Act 138 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act to incorporate the district of Spring Garder - amend - relating to the placing of sign-boards in the city and incorporated districts of Philadelphia
Act 139 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To authorize the town council of the borough of Pottsville to borrow money, and to give justices of the peace jurisdiction in certain cases within said borough
Act 140 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Columbia insurance company of Philadelphia - amend - insurance; dividends; redemption of certificates; votes; powers; capital stock
Act 141 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To authorize the governor to incorporate a company for making a turnpike road in Susquehanna county
Act 142 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Relative to the trust estate of Elizabeth Wilson, of Washington county
Act 143 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
In relation to the district of Penn, in the county of Philadelphia
Act 144 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate Saint Mary's cemetery, in Allegheny county
Act 145 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Authorizing Jacob Weidle, committee of Michael Weaver, to sell certain real estate
Act 146 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Relating to collateral inheritance taxes
Act 147 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the Female medical college of Pennsylvania
Act 148 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Relative to bridges
Act 149 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Authorizing the citizens of Ontelaunee township, in Berks county, to vote for or against the continuance of said township; and to authorize the citizens of Butler township, Adams county, to fix the place for holding their elections
Act 150 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act to incorporate the town of New Castle, in the county of Mercer, and the town of Blairsville, in the county of Indiana; relative to the petition of David M'Cullough; and relative to the real estate of Henry M'Cullough - amend - power and duties of asse
Act 151 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Relating to the estate of Elizabeth B. Hazlehurst
Act 152 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Laying a tax on dogs in certain townships in the county of Chester; relative to elections in West Philadelphia; and to assessors in Millerstown, Perry county
Act 153 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Relative to courts and lost deeds in Carbon county
Act 154 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To provide for the election of certain offers in Spruce ward, Reading
Act 155 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Erecting part of West Brunswig township, Schuylkill county, into a separate school district, to be called North school district; relative to a school district in Indiana county; and to the spring elections in the borough of Harrisburg; and relative to Bea
Act 156 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Relating to a certain map of Smethport, M'Kean county; and relative to the state map
Act 157 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the Franklin hall association of the borough of Chambersburg, Franklin county, Pennsylvania
Act 158 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To erect parts of Norwegian, Branch, Wayne and North Manheim townships, in the county of Schuylkill, into a separate school district; and relative to school districts in Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson and Westmoreland counties
Act 159 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To authorize Mary Swaine to sell certain real estate
Act 160 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the Keystone mutual life and health insurance company of Harrisburg
Act 161 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the Diligent society of Delaware county, for the detection of horse thieves and the recovery of stolen horses
Act 162 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Relating to conveyances by trustees
Act 163 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Authorizing Harrison Cain to sell and convey certain real estate in Butler county
Act 164 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Authorizing the canal commissioners to examine the claim of William H. Richardson and company, for the destruction of salt works on dam number two, on the Kiskiminetas river
Act 165 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To confer on Edgar Monroe Ruhl, of York county, the rights and privileges of a child born in lawful wedlock
Act 166 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act incorporating the borough of Shrewsbury, in York county - amend - lay out streets and alleys
Act 167 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To establish a ferry at Alexander Guffey's salt works, in Westmoreland county
Act 168 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To authorize the sale of certain real estate in Chester county; and relative to the Protection mutual fire insurance company of said county
Act 169 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To establish a ferry in Westmoreland county, at Suter's saw mill
Act 170 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the Female academy of the Visitation
Act 171 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To confer on Andrew M'Donald, of Washington county, the rights and privileges of a child born in lawful wedlock
Act 172 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Authorizing the laying out of a state road from Allentown to Jonestown; and to repeal an act relating to road views in Jefferson county
Act 173 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Relating to the Wayne County mutual insurance company
Act 174 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Relative to ferries in Northampton and Monroe counties
Act 175 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the president and managers of the Bald Eagle plank road company
Act 176 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Relating to the drawings of juries in the counties of Berks and Bedford; relating to the commissioners of Dauphin county; and relative to the removal of paupers in Berks county
Act 177 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Authorizing the laying out of a state road from Cannonsburg, in Washington county, to Connellsville, in Fayette county
Act 178 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Authorizing Joseph Boone to sell and convey certain real estate in Clearfield county
Act 179 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act changing the mode of electing officers of the Springhouse, Northamptontown and Bethlehem turnpike road company - repeal
Act 180 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act authorizing the governor to incorporate the Susquehanna and Delaware canal and railroad company - amend - purchase and hold coal lands
Act 181 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the German exchange association of Philadelphia
Act 182 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act to incorporate the borough of West Philadelphia - amend - boundaries changed; rights and powers; divided into 3 wards; election of councilmen; opening of streets
Act 183 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act relative to the borough of Clarksville, Mercer county - amend - privileges granted; prevent the running at large of geese, swine and dogs
Act 184 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To refund to John H. Dohnert, late treasurer of the county of Philadelphia, certain moneys over-paid by him; and relative to fees allowed to the treasurers of Lycoming and Clinton counties
Act 185 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To authorize the town council of Pottsville to open and enlarge Logan's court, and to open an alley between Second and Centre streets, in the borough of Pottsville, Schuylkill county, in relation to streets in Freeport and Easton; and in relation to a pri
Act 186 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Relative to the survey books of Butler county
Act 187 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the Tioga and Lawrenceville plank road company
Act 188 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To confirm the title to certain real estate in the city of Philadelphia
Act 189 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To authorize the trustee of Christiana Stock to sell and convey certain real estate; and relating to the estates of Benjamin Price, deceased, and Benjamin Sharpe, deceased
Act 190 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act to incorporate the Farmers' Bank of Schuylkill County - amend - powers of board directors
Act 191 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Authorizing Abraham Aurand, of Union county, to sell and convey certain real estate
Act 193 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To appoint William Loughry, of Indiana county, committee of the person and estate of Peggy Lintner, a lunatic; and relative to writs of error
Act 194 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act relating to judgments and the acknowledgment of deeds and sequestration of life estates; and relative to the high constable of the borough of Wilkesbarre - repeal - section 6
Act 195 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the American trust company for the protection and advice of immigrants, and the investment of funds
Act 196 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act to abolish imprisonment for debt, and to punish fraudulent debtors - amend - attachment issued by alderman or justice of the peace, not to remain a lien longer than sixty days
Act 197 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Relative to roads and supervisors in the townships of Pennsbury and Pocopson, Chester county; and George township, Fayette county
Act 198 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To incorporate the State mutual fire insurance company of Harrisburg
Act 199 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act to incorporate certain trusts under the title of the Pequa railroad and improvement company - amend - additional powers granted to the Pequa railroad company
Act 200 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
Act incorporating the Wilkesbarre and Hazleton turnpike road company - amend - increase of capital stock; borrow money
Act 201 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
For the erection of a poor house in Mercer county
Act 202 of 1850 · 1850 · Original text
To authorize the governor to incorporate the Millheim and East Kishacoquillas turnpike road company
Act 203 of 1850 · 1850 · 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.