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The 1776 Philadelphia ConstitutionThe laws of the land, set down plainly — and put to the people, one provision at a time.

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.

Clear

5,365 laws of the 1870s

Constitution of 1838

  1. To change the name of the hoard of school controllers of the First school district of Pennsylvania.

    Act 429 of 1870 · P.L. 437 · March 15, 1870 · Scanned page

  2. To authorize the surveyor general to execute a patent to Thompson M. Johnson, for a certain lot of ground in the borough of Beaver.

    Act 430 of 1870 · P.L. 438 · March 15, 1870 · Scanned page

  3. To incorporate the Iron Moulders' International Co-operative Union.

    Act 431 of 1870 · P.L. 438 · March 15, 1870 · Scanned page

  4. To incorporate the Clearfield and Buffalo Railway Company.

    Act 432 of 1870 · P.L. 440 · March 15, 1870 · Scanned page

  5. To vest the title of a certain lot of land in the school board of Schuylkill district, in Chester county.

    Act 433 of 1870 · P.L. 442 · March 15, 1870 · Scanned page

  6. To allow an appeal from the decision and order of the court of common pleas of Allegheny county, at number one hundred and fiftytwo of June term, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, to the supreme court of this commonwealth.

    Act 434 of 1870 · P.L. 443 · March 15, 1870 · Scanned page

  7. To incorporate the Dry Run Independent Band of Hope.

    Act 435 of 1870 · P.L. 444 · March 12, 1870 · Scanned page

  8. Consolidating the late townships of Byberry and Moreland, now the Third division of the Twenty -third ward, in the city of Philadelphia, into one district, for the support of the poor in said division.

    Act 436 of 1870 · P.L. 445 · March 16, 1870 · Scanned page

  9. Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Philadelphia Telegraph Company.

    Act 437 of 1870 · P.L. 446 · March 16, 1870 · Scanned page

  10. Regulating certain sheriff's fees in the county of Luzerne.

    Act 438 of 1870 · P.L. 447 · March 16, 1870 · Scanned page

  11. Authorizing the sale of certain public property in Orwigsburg, Schuylkill county.

    Act 439 of 1870 · P.L. 447 · March 16, 1870 · Scanned page

  12. Supplement to an act to incorporate the Philadelphia Trust, Safe Deposit and Insurance Company of the city of Philadelphia, approved the fifteenth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixtynine, defining and extending the trust poAvers of said company, and making and establishing certain new provisions and regulations as to the officers and directors thereof. former act repea

    Act 440 of 1870 · P.L. 448 · March 16, 1870 · Scanned page

  13. Supplement to the act incorporating the Cresheim Turnpike and Bridge Company.

    Act 441 of 1870 · P.L. 450 · March 16, 1870 · Scanned page

  14. Authorizing an additional justice of the peace in the borough of Friendsville, in the county of Susquehanna.

    Act 442 of 1870 · P.L. 451 · March 16, 1870 · Scanned page

  15. To secure to the citizens of the commonwealth the free use and enjoyment of Fairmount park, in the cfity of Philadelphia, and to prevent the construction of any railroad therein.

    Act 443 of 1870 · P.L. 451 · March 16, 1870 · Scanned page

  16. To extend the provisions of an act, entitled "An Act relating to the liens of mechanics, material-men and laborers upon leasehold estates and property thereon, in the county of Venango/' approved the eighth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight; also the provisions of an act, entitled "An Act to amend an act, approved the eighth day of April, one thousand

    Act 444 of 1870 · P.L. 452 · March 16, 1870 · Scanned page

  17. Supplement to an act to incorporate the Bedford and Bridgeport Railroad Company, approved the thirty-first day of March, Anno Pornini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, extending the time for payment of enrolment tax, and authorizing said railroad company to connect with the Huntingdon and Broad Top railroad, and authorizing said company to borrow money.

    Act 445 of 1870 · P.L. 453 · March 16, 1870 · Scanned page

  18. To authorize the People's Passenger Railway Company of Pittsburg to use steam, as a motive power, and to change the route of said road.

    Act 447 of 1870 · P.L. 456 · March 16, 1870 · Scanned page

  19. Authorizing the dedication of Diamond street from Broad street to Thirty-third street, in the city of Philadelphia, to public use, upon condition that no railway or railroad tracks be hereafter laid therein.

    Act 448 of 1870 · P.L. 457 · March 16, 1870 · Scanned page

  20. To incorporate the Tionesta Bridge Company.

    Act 449 of 1870 · P.L. 458 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  21. Authorizing the commissioners of Monroe county to borrow money.

    Act 450 of 1870 · P.L. 459 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  22. To extend the charter of the Philadelphia Park Association to the sixteenth day of June, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, and to make valid the acts of said association under its charter, granted by the court of common pleas of the city of Philadelphia, on the sixteenth day of June, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty

    Act 451 of 1870 · P.L. 460 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  23. Supplement to the act. entitled "An Act to incorporate the Citizens' Association of Pennsylvania," approved the eleventh day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty -six, changing its corporate name, and defining anew its purposes and privileges.

    Act 452 of 1870 · P.L. 461 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  24. Supplement To an act to incorporate the Enterprise Insurance Company, approved on the ninth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six. authorizing an increase of its capital stock, and of the number of its directors, and the payment of dividends in stock.

    Act 453 of 1870 · P.L. 462 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  25. To erect a bridge across the Clarion river, at Clarington, in Jefferson county, where the Brookville and Warren &'&be road crosses said river.

    Act 454 of 1870 · P.L. 463 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  26. Authorizing the commissioners of Snyder county to cause a public bridge to be erected over Middle creek, in said county.

    Act 455 of 1870 · P.L. 465 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  27. Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the People's Bank of the city of Philadelphia," approved February twenty-fifth, one thousand eight hundred and

    Act 456 of 1870 · P.L. 465 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  28. To incorporate the Farmers' and Miners' Railroad

    Act 457 of 1870 · P.L. 466 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  29. To exempt the Blairsville Academy from taxation.

    Act 458 of 1870 · P.L. 468 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  30. To incorporate the Banan Horse Railroad Company.

    Act 459 of 1870 · P.L. 468 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  31. Authorizing the appointment of commissioners to lay out a state road in Allegheny, Butler and Armstrong counties.

    Act 460 of 1870 · P.L. 469 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  32. To au act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Indigent Widows' and Single Women's Society of Philadelphia," approved March twentythird, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, repealing the limit of the incomp of said association.

    Act 461 of 1870 · P.L. 471 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  33. To authorize the trustees of the Smethport Academy, in the county of M'Kean, to transfer the property of said academy to the Smethport school district, for the establishment and maintenance of a graded school.

    Act 462 of 1870 · P.L. 471 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  34. Authorizing the auditors of East Hempfield township, Lancaster conuty, to re-audit and re-settle the bounty accounts of John S. Wissler and Levi S. Gross, late supervisors of said township.

    Act 464 of 1870 · P.L. 473 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  35. Authorizing a return of the unseated taxes for the township of Keating, in the county of Potter, for the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.

    Act 465 of 1870 · P.L. 473 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  36. Relative to accounts of the county treasurers of Lancaster and York counties.

    Act 466 of 1870 · P.L. 474 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  37. Supplement to an act relative to hawking, peddling and selling by sample in the county of Schuylkill, approved the sixteenth day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty

    Act 467 of 1870 · P.L. 475 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  38. Supplement to an act. entitled "An Act to incorporate the Union Banking Company," approved February eighteenth, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.

    Act 468 of 1870 · P.L. 475 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  39. Empowering the board of guardians of the poor of the city of Pittsburg to select a treasurer, and receive interest on all unexpended balances.

    Act 469 of 1870 · P.L. 476 · April 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  40. To enable the Columbia and Port Deposit Railroad Company to construct its railroad, and to extend the time for the completion of the

    Act 470 of 1870 · P.L. 476 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  41. Supplement To an act authorizing the governor to incorporate the West Chester and Wilmington Plank Road Company, and for other purposes, approved the third day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, changing the manner of voting by the stockholders of the said company.

    Act 411 of 1870 · P.L. 477 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  42. To incorporate the Hamburg Savings Bank.

    Act 472 of 1870 · P.L. 478 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  43. To incorporate the Pennsylvania Joint Lumber and Land Company.

    Act 473 of 1870 · P.L. 481 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  44. Authorizing the school directors of Lock Haven school district to borrow money.

    Act 474 of 1870 · P.L. 483 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  45. Jitpplenmtt 'To an act, entitled "An Act relative to the Sunbury Lumber Company," approved the seventeenth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty

    Act 475 of 1870 · P.L. 483 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  46. To extend the provisions of an act extending the statute of limitations for collecting the fees of sheriffs and other officers of Armstrong county, to Clearfield county.

    Act of 1870 · P.L. 484 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  47. Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act relating to road laws in Delaware county," approved the twelfth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.

    Act of 1870 · P.L. 485 · 1870 · Scanned page

  48. Relating to the collection of taxes in the county of Clearfield.

    Act 478 of 1870 · P.L. 486 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page

  49. Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act authorizing the laying out of a state road from New Castle, in Lawrence county, to Emlenton, Venango county," passed April fifth, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.

    Act of 1870 · P.L. 489 · March 18, 1870 · Scanned page

  50. To prevent cattle, horses, sheep or hogs from running at large in the township of Wrightstown, in the county of Bucks.

    Act 480 of 1870 · P.L. 489 · March 18, 1870 · Scanned page

  51. To provide that justices of the peace may hold the office of notary public in Westmoreland county, and to authorize the governor to appoint an additional notary public in said county.

    Act 481 of 1870 · P.L. 490 · March 18, 1870 · Scanned page

  52. Relative to the fees on unseated lands in the county of Centre.

    Act 482 of 1870 · P.L. 491 · March 18, 1870 · Scanned page

  53. Relating to the Hanover Presbyterian Church of Dauphin county.

    Act 483 of 1870 · P.L. 491 · March 18, 1870 · Scanned page

  54. Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act incorporating the North Penn Iron Company of Northampton county," approved the twenty-first day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.

    Act 484 of 1870 · P.L. 492 · March 18, 1870 · Scanned page

  55. To fix the standard weight of coal and coke in the counties of Beaver and Butler.

    Act 485 of 1870 · P.L. 493 · March 18, 1870 · Scanned page

  56. Relative to the collection of taxes in the borough of Bridgeport, in the county of Montgomery.

    Act 486 of 1870 · P.L. 493 · March 18, 1870 · Scanned page

  57. To authorize the school directors of the borough of Bellefonte, in the county of Centre, to borrow money for building purposes.

    Act 487 of 1870 · P.L. 494 · March 18, 1870 · Scanned page

  58. To increase the compensation of jurors in the counties of Wayne and Huntingdon.

    Act 488 of 1870 · P.L. 495 · March 18, 1870 · Scanned page

  59. authorize the school directors of Lincoln township, Allegheny county, and Big Beaver township, Lawrence county, to levy and collect additional tax for school purposes.

    Act 489 of 1870 · P.L. 495 · March 18, 1870 · Scanned page

  60. Relating to the collection of taxes in the borough of Dunmore.

    Act 490 of 1870 · P.L. 496 · March 18, 1870 · Scanned page

  61. To repeal an act, entitled "An Act giving a bounty on fox and wild cat scalps in Westmoreland and Berks counties," so far as the same relates to Westmoreland county.

    Act 491 of 1870 · P.L. 496 · March 18, 1870 · Scanned page

  62. Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act regulating banks," approved the sixteenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty, relating to the Farmers' Bank of Schuylkill county.

    Act 492 of 1870 · P.L. 497 · March 21, 1870 · Scanned page

  63. Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the city of Carbondale.

    Act 493 of 1870 · P.L. 497 · March 21, 1870 · Scanned page

  64. To increase the compensation of the county auditors of Somerset county.

    Act 495 of 1870 · P.L. 499 · March 21, 1870 · Scanned page

  65. Supplement to an act to authorize the school district of the borough of Uniontown, Fayette county, to borrow money, approved the eighteenth day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixtyeight.

    Act 496 of 1870 · P.L. 500 · March 21, 1870 · Scanned page

  66. To incorporate the Pittsburg Coal Exchange Company.

    Act 497 of 1870 · P.L. 500 · March 21, 1870 · Scanned page

  67. To supply the borough of Lewisburg with water.

    Act 498 of 1870 · P.L. 503 · March 21, 1870 · Scanned page

  68. Supplement to an act appropriating the moneys arising from fines and forfeitures to county purposes, approved the twenty-fourth day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, so far as the same relates to the county of Berks.

    Act 499 of 1870 · P.L. 508 · March 21, 1870 · Scanned page

  69. Supplement to an act, entitled " An Act to authorize the board of school directors of the Sixteenth ward of the city of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny, to borrow money for building purposes," approved April eighth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.

    Act 500 of 1870 · P.L. 508 · March 21, 1870 · Scanned page

  70. To authorize the Lower Bridge Company to fund its debt.

    Act 501 of 1870 · P.L. 509 · February 18, 1870 · Scanned page

  71. Authorizing a mercantile association under the name, style and title of the Girard Mercantile Company of Philadelphia, for the purpose of buying and selling, on commission, wool, cotton and other southern and western productions.

    Act 502 of 1870 · P.L. 510 · March 16, 1870 · Scanned page

  72. Relative to fines, forfeitures and penalties in the county of Clinton.

    Act 503 of 1870 · P.L. 511 · March 21, 1870 · Scanned page

  73. To authorize the school directors of the borough of Cressona, Schuylkill county, to borrow money for building purposes.

    Act 504 of 1870 · P.L. 512 · March 21, 1870 · Scanned page

  74. Supplement to the act incorporating the city of Philadelphia, relative to water companies.

    Act 505 of 1870 · P.L. 513 · 1870 · Scanned page

  75. To the charter of the city of Allentown.

    Act 506 of 1870 · P.L. 513 · 1870 · Scanned page

  76. Relative to the fees of notaries public in Northumberland county.

    Act 507 of 1870 · P.L. 517 · March 22, 1870 · Scanned page

  77. Supplement to an act to incorporate the Muncy Creek Improvement Company.

    Act 508 of 1870 · P.L. 518 · March 22, 1870 · Scanned page

  78. Authorizing the school directors of Washington school district, of the city of Pittsburg, to sell certain real estate and to borrow money.

    Act 509 of 1870 · P.L. 518 · March 22, 1870 · Scanned page

  79. Supplement to an act, entitled " An Act to authorize the purchase and erection of a poor house for the township and borough of Mount Carmel.

    Act 510 of 1870 · P.L. 519 · March 22, 1870 · Scanned page

  80. To correct an error in the location of abridge across the West Branch of the Susquehanna, in Clearfield county, near the mouth of Chest creek, and to relieve the county from erecting a bridge at the original location.

    Act 511 of 1870 · P.L. 520 · March 22, 1870 · Scanned page

  81. Supplement to an act, entitled " An Act to charter the Girard Life Insurance, Annuity and Trust Company of Philadelphia.

    Act 512 of 1870 · P.L. 521 · March 22, 1870 · Scanned page

  82. Supplement to the act incorporating the borough of Conshohocken.

    Act 513 of 1870 · P.L. 522 · March 22, 1870 · Scanned page

  83. Supplement to an act. entitled "An Act to incorporate the city of Williamsport.

    Act 514 of 1870 · P.L. 525 · March 22, 1870 · Scanned page

  84. To relieve the First Troop of Philadelphia City Cavalry from payment of collateral inheritance tax on bequest of John W.

    Act 515 of 1870 · P.L. 537 · March 23, 1870 · Scanned page

  85. Supplement to an act incorporating the Farmers' and Miners' Railroad Company, approved the seventeenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and

    Act 516 of 1870 · P.L. 537 · March 23, 1870 · Scanned page

  86. To authorize the city council of the city of Williamsport to improve and pave certain streets, et cetera, in said city.

    Act 517 of 1870 · P.L. 538 · 1870 · Scanned page

  87. To authorize the governor to appoint an inspector of refined petroleum, kerosene and burning oils in and for the county of Lyconiing.

    Act 518 of 1870 · P.L. 540 · March 23, 1870 · Scanned page

  88. To extend to the counties of Wayne and Luzerne the provisions of an act authorizing the reference of civil actions in the county of Bradford.

    Act 519 of 1870 · P.L. 540 · March 23, 1870 · Scanned page

  89. Supplement to the act consolidating the city of Philadelphia.

    Act 520 of 1870 · P.L. 541 · March 23, 1870 · Scanned page

  90. Supplement to an act passed May sixteenth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, entitled "An Act to authorize the erection of a free bridge over the river Schylkill, at South street, in the city of Philadelphia," repealing the authority given to the commissioners by the supplements to said act, approved April fifth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, April fifth, one thousand

    Act 521 of 1870 · P.L. 542 · March 23, 1870 · Scanned page

  91. To establish the Pittsburg Fire Department.

    Act 522 of 1870 · P.L. 543 · 1870 · Scanned page

  92. To authorize the governor to appoint nineteen additional notaries public in the city of Philadelphia.

    Act 523 of 1870 · P.L. 543 · March 23, 1870 · Scanned page

  93. Supplement to an act to incorporate the city of Philadelphia, relative to the collection of taxes.

    Act 524 of 1870 · P.L. 544 · March 24, 1870 · Scanned page

  94. To authorize the paving or macadamizing of streets in the Twentysecond -ward, city of Philadelphia.

    Act 525 of 1870 · P.L. 546 · March 24, 1870 · Scanned page

  95. Supplement to the act consolidating the city of Philadelphia, relative to the widening and straightening of streets.

    Act 526 of 1870 · P.L. 547 · 1870 · Scanned page

  96. Relating to a company incorporated to build an artificial road through Germantown to the ten mile stone at Chestnut Hill, and thence to the new stone bridge over the Perkiomen, in Montgomery county, approved the twelfth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and one.

    Act 527 of 1870 · P.L. 547 · March 24, 1870 · Scanned page

  97. To authorize the macadamizing of certain streets in the Twenty-second ward of the city of Philadelphia.

    Act 528 of 1870 · P.L. 549 · March 24, 1870 · Scanned page

  98. To prevent certain obstructions in the public highwa3'S of parts of Philadelphia.

    Act 529 of 1870 · P.L. 549 · 1870 · Scanned page

  99. To incorporate the Conewango Valley Railroad Company.

    Act 530 of 1870 · P.L. 550 · March 24, 1870 · Scanned page

  100. Supplemental to the act incorporating the Continental Improvement Company, approved the thirteenth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.

    Act 532 of 1870 · P.L. 553 · March 24, 1870 · Scanned page

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Province of Pennsylvania1682–1775

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.