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.
5,365 laws of the 1870s
Constitution of 1838
To authorize the court of common pleas of Cumberland county to decree the sale of a tract of land in Upper Allen township, Cumberland county, now held by the Methodist Episcopal church as a campmeeting ground.
Act 45 of 1871 · P.L. 43 · February 10, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to incorporate the Birmingham, East Birmingham and South Pittsburg Gas Company, approved the fifteenth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty
Act 46 of 1871 · P.L. 44 · February 10, 1871 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Lancaster County Monumental Association.
Act 47 of 1871 · P.L. 44 · February 10, 1871 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Mount Joy Township Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Lancaster county.
Act 49 of 1871 · P.L. 46 · February 10, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act to enlarge the jurisdiction of justices of the peace and aldermen in the county of Lawrence, approved February twenty-fifth, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and
Act 50 of 1871 · P.L. 47 · February 11, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act requiring the supervisors in the different townships in Cumberland county to i^eep the wing-walls and embankments of said county bridges in repair, approved the thirteenth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Act 51 of 1871 · P.L. 48 · February 11, 1871 · Scanned page
To establish a uniform system of road laws in the county of Elk.
Act 52 of 1871 · P.L. 49 · February 14, 1871 · Scanned page
Fvelating to vacating a portion of Tenth avenue, in the city of
Act 53 of 1871 · P.L. 49 · February 14, 1871 · Scanned page
To repeal an act relative to county auditors of Lancaster and York counties, so far as relates to York county.
Act 54 of 1871 · P.L. 50 · February 14, 1871 · Scanned page
To repeal an act relative to accounts of the county treasurers of Lancaster and York counties, so far as the same relates to York county.
Act 55 of 1871 · P.L. 51 · February 14, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the board of revision of York county to subpoena witnesses and compel their attendance.
Act 56 of 1871 · P.L. 51 · 1871 · Scanned page
To repeal so much of the law relating to registers and registers' courts as requires notice by handbills of the filing and allowance of accounts, in the county of Chester.
Act 57 of 1871 · P.L. 52 · February 14, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplementary to an act, entitled '^A supplement to an act for the better management of Allegheny county prison," approved the first day of February, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Act 58 of 1871 · P.L. 53 · February 14, 1871 · Scanned page
To establish the times for holding the several courts in and for the county of Luzerne.
Act 59 of 1871 · P.L. 54 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to subscribe for or purchase the capital stock and to guarantee the payment of the principal and interest of the bonds of the American Steamship Company of Philadelphia.
Act 60 of 1871 · P.L. 55 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
Hupplementary to the acts relating to lateral railroads.
Act 61 of 1871 · P.L. 56 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize corporations to subscribe for or purchase the capital stock and to purchase the bonds of the American Steamship Company of Philadelphia.
Act 62 of 1871 · P.L. 56 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
In relation to roads in Greenville, Mercer county.
Act 63 of 1871 · P.L. 57 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act to incorporate the Wyoming Valley Gas and Water Company, approved April third, one thousand eight hundred and
Act 64 of 1871 · P.L. 58 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Fire Insurance Patrol of the city of Philadelphia.
Act 65 of 1871 · P.L. 59 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement To an act, entitled "An Act to fts; monthly return days in the courts of Clearfield, Perry and Centre counties," approved the eighteenth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy, extending the same to Clinton county.
Act 66 of 1871 · P.L. 60 · 1871 · Scanned page
To change the terms of the several courts of the county of Carbon, commeucing on the Mondays following the fourth Mondays of September and December in each year.
Act 67 of 1871 · P.L. 61 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
Relative to the fees of mercantile appraisers in the county of Erie.
Act 68 of 1871 · P.L. 61 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
Authorizing the connnissioners of Allegheny eounty to provide an office for the coroner of said county.
Act 69 of 1871 · P.L. 62 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the filling of the jury wheel in the county of Cameron.
Act 70 of 1871 · P.L. 62 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the First Presbyterian church of Germantown, Twentysecond ward, city of Philadelphia, to sell real estate.
Act of 1871 · P.L. 63 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
To exempt Old Oaks Cemetery from taxation.
Act 12 of 1871 · P.L. 64 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
To incorporate the International Exhibition Company.
Act 73 of 1871 · P.L. 65 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
To appoint one additional notary public in tlie boroagh of Saulisbury, in the county of Somerset.
Act of 1871 · P.L. 68 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
For the relief of J. A.
Act 15 of 1871 · P.L. 68 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
To extend the limits of the borough of Indiana, in Indiana county.
Act of 1871 · P.L. 69 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplementary to an act incorporating the Elk Lick Coal, Lumber and Iron Company, approved April thirteenth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, changing the name, increasing the number of directors and the capital of said company, reducing the par value of its shares, and changing the qualifications of the directors.
Act 11 of 1871 · P.L. 70 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the Greensburg Masonic Fund to borrow money.
Act 78 of 1871 · P.L. 70 · 1871 · Scanned page
To empower the court of common pleas of Crawford county to authorize the commissioners to levy and collect not exceeding three mills additional tax for county purposes.
Act 80 of 1871 · P.L. 72 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize and empower the orphans' court of Armstrong county to sell certain real estate and personal property in said county.
Act 81 of 1871 · P.L. 72 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled " An Act relative to the Lancaster countj' prison," approved the nineteenth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and fifty.
Act 82 of 1871 · P.L. 74 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
Authorizing the court of quarter sessions of Lancaster county to grant licenses to keep inns or taverns to Riphfel Fisher et al., and restaurant licenses to Hilaire Zsepfel et al., in Lancaster city and county.
Act 83 of 1871 · P.L. 75 · 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the board of school directors of the township of Plains, in the county of Luzerne, to borrow money and issue bonds therefor.
Act 84 of 1871 · P.L. 76 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the burgess and town council of the borough of Beaver, Beaver county, to levy and collect an additional tax.
Act 85 of 1871 · P.L. 77 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to in corporate the Eastern Iron Company," passed April nintli, one thousand eight hundred and fifcy-nine.
Act 86 of 1871 · P.L. 78 · 1871 · Scanned page
For the better protection of grey and fox squirrels in the county of of Cumberland.
Act 87 of 1871 · P.L. 78 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
Relating to the offices of county treasurer and county auditors.
Act 88 of 1871 · P.L. 79 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
To euable the directors of the poor and of the house of employment of the county of Huntingdon to purchase certain real estate of John H.
Act 89 of 1871 · P.L. 80 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
To change the name of the Buffalo and Washington Railway Company.
Act 90 of 1871 · P.L. 80 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the court of common pleas of Berks county to appoint an auditor to audit the account of the Berks county prison.
Act 91 of 1871 · P.L. 81 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
Authorizing the borough of Clearfield to erect water works.
Act 92 of 1871 · P.L. 83 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
To extend the provisions of the act of March twenty-seventh, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, entitled " An Act to enlarge the jurisdiction of the courts of common pleas of this oommonweaith, relative to granting charters of incorporation and confirming those heretofore granted.
Act 94 of 1871 · P.L. 87 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act for the better and more impartial selection of persons to serve as jurors in each of the counties of this commonwealth," approved April tenth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Act 95 of 1871 · P.L. 87 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplementing the several acts relating to state mercantile licenses in the cities of Pittsburg and Allegheny, requiring the treasurers of said cities to give bond to the state, et cetera.
Act 96 of 1871 · P.L. 88 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the school directors of the Springfield district, Twelfth ward, city of Pittsburg, to borrow money for building purposes, exempting the bonds so issued from taxation except for state purposes.
Act 97 of 1871 · P.L. 89 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplemental to an act, entitled " An Act to authorize the erection of a poor house in the township of New Milford, in the county of Susquehanna," approved the eleventh day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and
Act 98 of 1871 · P.L. 90 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
Providing for the consolidation of the Mahanoy and Hhamokin and the Philadelphia and Reading railroad companies, and conferring certain powers upon the said coHsoUdated companj'.
Act 99 of 1871 · P.L. 91 · 1871 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Co-operative Association of Weatherly.
Act 101 of 1871 · P.L. 92 · February 17, 1871 · Scanned page
Relative to the construction of sewers in the borough of Ormsby, in the county of Allegheny, and to liens for sewers and for street grading and paving in said borough.
Act 102 of 1871 · P.L. 94 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act incorporating the city of Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin.
Act 103 of 1871 · P.L. 95 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the school directors of East Brady borough, in the county of Clarion, to borrow money for building purposes.
Act 104 of 1871 · P.L. 96 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the trustees of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal church of Danville to borrow money, issue bonds and execute a mortgage as security therefor, and exempting the same from taxation except for state purpose.
Act 105 of 1871 · P.L. 96 · 1871 · Scanned page
Relating to the collection of poor and road taxes in the county ef Forest.
Act 106 of 1871 · P.L. 97 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Lutheran Mission and Church Extension Society.
Act 108 of 1871 · P.L. 99 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
Belating to the erection of school buildings, by the board of public education, in the city of Philadelphia.
Act 109 of 1871 · P.L. 100 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled " An Act consolidating the wards of the city of Pittsburg for educational purposes," approved the twelfth day of February, Anno Doniiiii one thousand eiglit hundred and sixty-nine.
Act 110 of 1871 · P.L. 101 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
To extend the provisions of an act, entitled "An Act to prevent cattle, horses, mules, sheep and swine from running at large in Middlesex, Butler and Mercer townships, and Harrisville borough, Butler county," to Connoquenossing and Lancaster townships, Butler county. Section
Act 111 of 1871 · P.L. 102 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement To an act approved the twenty-sixth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Workingmen's Building Association of Philadelphia.
Act 112 of 1871 · P.L. 103 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
Te incorporate the Ransom Valley Turnpike Company.
Act 113 of 1871 · P.L. 104 · 1871 · Scanned page
To repeal an act, entitled " An Act extending the provisiona of an act to prevent cattle, horses, mules, sheep and hogs from running at large in Venango township, Erie county, and Little Beaver township, Lawrence county, to certain other townships in Lawrence county," approved March twenty-eighth, one thousand eight hundred and seventy, as far as relates to cows in Wilmington township, Lawrence county.
Act 114 of 1871 · P.L. 105 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
Extending to Beaver county the provisions of an act, entitled " An Act relative to the fees of coroner of Allegheny county," approved March ninth, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixtyseven.
Act 115 of 1871 · P.L. 106 · 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement To an act to incorporate the Ashmun Institute.
Act 116 of 1871 · P.L. 106 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
To incorporate the West Reading Market House Company.
Act 117 of 1871 · P.L. 107 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the school directors of New Galilee borough, Beaver county, to borrow money for building purposes.
Act 118 of 1871 · P.L. 109 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
Ou petition of property owuers, council may require paving of roa<.lway. 0\Vners to be credited with moneys expended. In eases of neglect of owners, council may have work done and collect cost thereof. Erection of frame buildings, relative to. To an act of general assembly of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, approved the third day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight
Act 119 of 1871 · P.L. 110 · 1871 · Scanned page
To extend the time for the completion of the Philadelphia and Montgomery County railroad.
Act 120 of 1871 · P.L. 111 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the governor to appoint au additional notary public for Armstrong county, to reside at Parker's Landing, and also one for Butler county, to reside at Harrisville, in said county.
Act 121 of 1871 · P.L. 112 · February 18, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the borough of Troy, in the county of Bradford, to borrow money for the purpose of providing a fire apparatus for said borough, and t« construct an engine house.
Act 122 of 1871 · P.L. 112 · February 20, 1871 · Scanned page
To provide for the appointment of an additional notary public in the county of Dauphin.
Act 123 of 1871 · P.L. 113 · February 20, 1871 · Scanned page
Relating to mechanics' liens in the county of Butler.
Act 124 of 1871 · P.L. 113 · February 20, 1871 · Scanned page
To provide for the levy and collection of poor taxes on unseated lands in the county of Elk.
Act 125 of 1871 · P.L. 114 · February 20, 1871 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Danville Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
Act 121 of 1871 · P.L. 115 · February 20, 1871 · Scanned page
To exempt the real estate of the Southwark and North-Western Soup Societies, in the city of Philadelphia, from taxation, except for state purposes.
Act 126 of 1871 · P.L. 115 · February 20, 1871 · Scanned page
To increase the capital stock of the Glendon Iron Company.
Act 128 of 1871 · P.L. 116 · February 21, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act authoriziug the school directors of Plymouth borough to borrow money for the erection of two school buildings for public schools, approved the sixteenth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and
Act 129 of 1871 · P.L. 117 · February 21, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to establish the Pittsburg fiire department," passed the twenty-third day of March, one thousand eight hundred and
Act 130 of 1871 · P.L. 118 · February 21, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled " An Act to incorporate the Security Safe Deposit, Trust and Guarantee Coin{>any," approved the twelfth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Act 131 of 1871 · P.L. 119 · February 21, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the board of control of the school district of the borough of Easton, in the county of Northampton, to borrow money for the purchase of grounds and the erecting of school buildings, and the bonds to be issued be exempt from taxation except for state purposes.
Act 132 of 1871 · P.L. 120 · February 23, 1871 · Scanned page
To place Twelfth street, between Wharton and Reed streets, In the city of Philadelphia, on the public plans, and to open, grade, curb and pave the same.
Act 133 of 1871 · P.L. 120 · February 23, 1871 · Scanned page
To provide for the revision of grades on Broad street, in the Twentyfifth and Twenty-second wards of the city of Philadelphia.
Act 134 of 1871 · P.L. 121 · February 23, 1871 · Scanned page
Dividing the Twentieth ward of the city of Philadelphia, and to create the Twenty-ninth ward in said city.
Act 135 of 1871 · P.L. 122 · February 23, 1871 · Scanned page
For the relief of Piatt Hitchcock, former treasurer of Luzerne county.
Act 136 of 1871 · P.L. 123 · 1871 · Scanned page
Relating to the return and sale of seated lands for taxes in the county of Forest.
Act 137 of 1871 · P.L. 124 · February 23, 1871 · Scanned page
Annexing to the townshfp of Horton, in the county of Elk, certain lands heretofore a part of Huston township, in the county of Clearfield.
Act 138 of 1871 · P.L. 125 · February 23, 1871 · Scanned page
Providing for the registry of lots in tke city of Pittsburg.
Act 139 of 1871 · P.L. 126 · February 24, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the burgess and towu councilof the borough of Connellsville, in, the county of Fayette, to borrow money for public improvements, and the bonds to be exempt from taxation except for state purposes.
Act 140 of 1871 · P.L. 130 · February 28, 1871 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Penn's Mount Turnpike Road Company.
Act 141 of 1871 · P.L. 130 · February 28, 1871 · Scanned page
Providing a pension to Mercy Lock, widow of John Lock, a revolutionary
Act 142 of 1871 · P.L. 132 · February 28, 1871 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Fusiyama Tea Importing Company,
Act 143 of 1871 · P.L. 132 · March 1, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Monongahela Water Company," ai^proved the twenty-first daj' of April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Act 146 of 1871 · P.L. 135 · March 1, 1871 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act, entitled " An Act to incorporate the Erie City Passenger Railway Company," approved March first, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Act 147 of 1871 · P.L. 137 · March 1, 1871 · Scanned page
To incorporate the city of Oil City, and to provide for the payment of the debt of the borough of Oil City.
Act 148 of 1871 · P.L. 137 · March 1, 1871 · Scanned page
To authorize the town council of the borough of Mahanoy City, in the county of Schuylkill, to borrow money.
Act 149 of 1871 · P.L. 148 · March 1, 1871 · Scanned page
To prohibit the catching of fish in Panther lake and John's Hunting pond, on the land of Mary A. Shute, situate partly in Wayne county and partly in Pike county.
Act 150 of 1871 · P.L. 149 · March 1, 1871 · Scanned page
Releasing Adam Pfeifer, of Butler county, Pennsylvania, administrator of Eve C. Graber, late of Beaver county, deceased, from payment of certain moneys to the commonwealth.
Act 151 of 1871 · P.L. 150 · 1871 · 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.