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.
690 laws of the 1880s
Constitution of 1874
Providing for the propagation and protection of fish and appropriating moneys tlierefor.
Act 124 of 1881 · P.L. 113 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
Making appropriations for tlie salaries of the officers of the Western Penitentiary and for books and stationery for prisoners, also to repair building at old prison damaged by tire.,
Act 125 of 1881 · P.L. 114 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
To provide for the expenses of the centennial celebration of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, October nineteenth, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one.
Act 126 of 1881 · P.L. 115 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
Making appropriation for the maintainance of the hospital for the insane for the northern district of Pennsylvania, at Danville, and for insurance on the institution.
Act 127 of 1881 · P.L. 115 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
Making appropriations for salaries of officers and employees of the Penns\'lvania reform school at Morganza, and to pay for permanent improvements, interest on bonded debt, interest on temporary loans and insurance.
Act 128 of 1881 · P.L. 116 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
To appropriate five thousand dollars to the Women's Auxiliary Committee of the Fairmount Park Art Association, for the erection of a bronze equestrian statue to the memory of major general George Gordon Meade.
Act 129 of 1881 · P.L. 118 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation for the support of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind.
Act 130 of 1881 · P.L. 118 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
Relating to the Western state penitentiary, and making an appropriation thiereto.
Act 131 of 1881 · P.L. 119 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation towards the support of the Northern Home for Friendless Children.
Act 132 of 1881 · P.L. 120 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
To make an appropriation to "The York Hospital and Dispensary Association.
Act 133 of 1881 · P.L. 120 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
To make an appropriation to the Pennsylvania Working Home for Blind Men, for maintenance and instruction in handicraft employment.
Act 134 of 1881 · P.L. 121 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
To provide for the current expenses of the board of public charities, for the year commencing on tlie first day of June, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one, and also for the year commencing on the first day of June, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.
Act 135 of 1881 · P.L. 121 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An act relating to executions," approved the sixteenth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, providing for the return of writs of fieri facias issued within seven days of the next succeeding term of court, and flxing the number of jurors on inquest upon real estate levied upon by virtue of writs of fieri facias.
Act 123 of 1881 · P.L. 122 · 1881 · Scanned page
Relating to mechanics' liens, and authorizing the amendment of the same.
Act 124 of 1881 · P.L. 122 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation to tlie Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association.
Act 136 of 1881 · P.L. 122 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
To provide for tiie expenses required by anact, entitled "An act to provide for the continuance of the education and maintenance of the destitute orphans of the deceased soldiers and sailors, and the destitute children of permanently disabled soldiers and sailors of the state.
Act 137 of 1881 · P.L. 122 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act approved the second day of June, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, entitled "An act authorizing the formation of partnership associations, in whicli the capital subscribed shall alone be responsible for the debts of the association, except under ■ certain circumstances," changing the limitation as to the number of managers, and also the persons who may be
Act 126 of 1881 · P.L. 124 · June 11, 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation to the Wilkes-Barre City Hospital.
Act 138 of 1881 · P.L. 124 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
To authorize actions for mesne profits to be commenced, in certain cases, before recovery in ejectment.
Act 127 of 1881 · P.L. 125 · 1881 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An act authorizing courts to provide hy rules as to return of writs, and making all necessary rules for the transaction of any and all business brought before them, and authorizing the judge of a separate judicial district to do all acts which heretofore two or more judges were by law authorized to do,'" extending the first section of said act.
Act 128 of 1881 · P.L. 125 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making appropriations for the support of tlie Pennsylvania training sciiool for feeble-minded children, at Media, Delaware county, and for the erection of additional buildings.
Act 139 of 1881 · P.L. 125 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
Relative to actions brought by husband and wife, or by the wife alone, for lier separate property, in cases of desertion.
Act 129 of 1881 · P.L. 126 · June 11, 1881 · Scanned page
Relating to turnpike and plank roads. Abandoned roads
Act 130 of 1881 · P.L. 126 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation to the Harrisburg hospital.
Act 140 of 1881 · P.L. 126 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation to the state hospital for the insane at Warren, Pennsylvania.
Act 141 of 1881 · P.L. 126 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
Relating to the commencement of actions of ejectment upon titles acquired by slieriflfs, treasurers or commissioners sales, and limiting the time within which such actions maj' be brought.
Act 131 of 1881 · P.L. 127 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation to the Pennsylvania state lunatic hospital at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Act 142 of 1881 · P.L. 127 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
To provide for the better security of life and limb, in cases of fire in hotels and other buildings.
Act 132 of 1881 · P.L. 128 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation to the Homeopathic Medical and Surgical Hospital and Dispensary of Pittsburgh.
Act 143 of 1881 · P.L. 128 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
Making appropriations for the salaries of officers and wages of employees, for maintenance of patients, for insurance and for the improvement of buildings of the Western Pennsylvania Hospital.
Act 144 of 1881 · P.L. 128 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act of the general assembly approved the seventeenth day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, entitled "An act relative to fraudulent debtors.
Act 133 of 1881 · P.L. 129 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation for the hospital for injured persons of the antiiracite coal region.
Act 145 of 1881 · P.L. 129 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
To authorize cities of the tirst class to levy and fix a tax rate, to fix the time of opening and closing the tax duplicates, to regulate the appropriations and expenditures of said cities, and prescribing penalties for the violation of tlie provisions of this act.
Act 134 of 1881 · P.L. 130 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation to the Lackawanna hospital, in the city of
Act 146 of 1881 · P.L. 130 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation to the state hospital for the insane for the southeastern district of the state at Norristown.
Act 147 of 1881 · P.L. 130 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
To secure to operatives and laborers, engaged in and about coal mines, manufactories of iron and steel, and all otlier manufactories, the pajanent of their wages at regular intervals and in lawful money of the United States.
Act 148 of 1881 · P.L. 131 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act in regard to the boundary monuments on the line between the state of Pennsylvania and New York, with an appropriation for expenses of same, approved May eighth, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, appropriating money for continuing the provisions of the said act.
Act 135 of 1881 · P.L. 132 · 1881 · Scanned page
Providing for the payment of all fees received by salaried county officers into the county treasury of their respective counties, where existing laws do not provide for the payment of the same into the state treasury.
Act 136 of 1881 · P.L. 133 · 1881 · Scanned page
To provide for the manner of decreasing the capital stock of bank ing corporations.
Act 137 of 1881 · P.L. 133 · 1881 · Scanned page
Relating to judgment dockets.
Act 138 of 1881 · P.L. 134 · 1881 · Scanned page
To provide for the ordinaryexpensesof the executive, legislative and judicial departments of tlie commonwealth, interest on the public debt, and for the support of the common schools, for the years Anno Domini one tliousand eiglit hundred and eighty-one and one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.
Act 150 of 1881 · P.L. 134 · June 9, 1881 · Scanned page
To amend section four of an act, entitled "An act authorizing and empowering tlie court of common pleas of the several counties of this commonwealth to change, alter and direct the mode of preparing and keeping indices in the several offices of record in said counties, and for preparing, making and substituting new indices for old indices, or parts thereof," approved May third, one thousand
Act 139 of 1881 · P.L. 136 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making a special appropriation to the state librarian for the purchase of rare and valuable books relating to the early history of Pennsylvania.
Act 140 of 1881 · P.L. 136 · 1881 · Scanned page
To authorize the board of school directors in cities of the fourth class to regulate the terms of its members, in certain crises.
Act 141 of 1881 · P.L. 137 · 1881 · Scanned page
To authorize cities of the first class to fund their present floating indebtedness, and to refnnd existing loans by creating loans therefor, and to provide for the redemption of the same.
Act 142 of 1881 · P.L. 137 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation to the Gettysborg Battle-field Memorial Asaooiation.
Act 161 of 1881 · P.L. 137 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
To repeal the seventh section of an act, entitled "A further supplement to the act erecting the town of Birniint^liain, in the county of Allegheny, into a borough, and relating to the pay of county commissioners of Lebanon county.
Act 143 of 1881 · P.L. 138 · June 11, 1881 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An act to provide for the division of counties of this commonwealth," approved the seventeenth day of April, eighteen hundred and seventv-eight.
Act 146 of 1881 · P.L. 139 · 1881 · Scanned page
To repeal an act approved March twenty-third, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, entitled "An act rehiting to the building of a state road leading from Keating station, on the Philadelphia and Erie railroad, in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, to Central Point, in Covington township, Clearfield county, in said state, so far as the same relates to the townships of East and West Keating, in Clinton county." Kepeai.
Act 147 of 1881 · P.L. 140 · 1881 · Scanned page
Regulating the satisfaction of mortgages, Avhen paj'ment of the same has been made in full, and the mortgagee or legal holder or holders thereof have failed to enter satisfaction upon record.
Act 149 of 1881 · P.L. 141 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation to the Harriaburg
Act 165 of 1881 · P.L. 141 · June 29, 1881 · Scanned page
To prohibit the granting of a license for the sale of liquors to proprietors, lessees, keepers or managers of theaters or other places of amusement.
Act 151 of 1881 · P.L. 146 · March 11, 1881 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act of assembly approved the thirteenth day of June, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, relative to roads and bridges, to authorize county commissioners to build bridges or furnish money to aid in building bridges, the erecting of which would require more expense tlian it is reasonable one or two adjoining townships should bear, in cases where the
Act 152 of 1881 · P.L. 146 · 1881 · Scanned page
Fixing tlie compensation of persons called to serve as coroner's jurors in this commonwealth.
Act 153 of 1881 · P.L. 147 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation for the support of the Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb.
Act 154 of 1881 · P.L. 147 · June 11, 1881 · Scanned page
To require all magistrates and other officials in cities of the tirst, second and third class, authorized to take acknowledgments and administer oaths, to perform such service free of charge for soldiers and widows of soldiers, when making affidavit to papers for the purpose of drawing pensions.
Act 155 of 1881 · P.L. 148 · 1881 · Scanned page
To define the terms sodomy and buggery as used in the laws of this commonwealth.
Act 156 of 1881 · P.L. 148 · 1881 · Scanned page
To permit persons charged witli the crime of receiving or buying stolen goods or chattels, knowing the same to have been stolen, to testify in their own behalf.
Act 158 of 1881 · P.L. 149 · 1881 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act for the regulation of boroughs, approved the third day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
Act 159 of 1881 · P.L. 150 · June 11, 1881 · Scanned page
To amend an act, entitled "An act relating to destroj'ed or lost dockets of justices' of the peace, and to the Birmingham and Elizabethtown Turnpike R.ad Company," approved the thirtieth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty, relating to lost dockets of justices of the peace.
Act of 1881 · P.L. 151 · 1881 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act for the prevention of trespassing upon railway trains, and consequent injuries to minors and other persons, approved May twenty-fourth, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Act 162 of 1881 · P.L. 152 · 1881 · Scanned page
Granting power to boroughs in this commonwealth which have issued bonds to secure any indebtedness, to redeem tlie same before maturity, with consent of the holders thereof, and issue new bonds at a less rate of interest.
Act 163 of 1881 · P.L. 153 · 1881 · Scanned page
To provide for the suitable mariiing of the grave of General Anthony Wayne, at Erie, Pennsylvania, and making an appropriation therefor.
Act 164 of 1881 · P.L. 154 · 1881 · Scanned page
Providing for the propagation and protection of fish, and appropriating moneys therefor.
Act 166 of 1881 · P.L. 154 · 1881 · Scanned page
Preamble. Committee to re- )iort action to commemorate landing of William Penn. No. L In the Senate, February 14th, 1881.
Act of 1881 · P.L. 156 · February 17, 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation to the state hospital for the insane at Warren.
Act 167 of 1881 · P.L. 156 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation to the Home for the Friendless Association of the city of Williamsport.
Act 108 of 1881 · P.L. 157 · 1881 · Scanned page
To provide for the selection of a site and erection of a state hosjjital for injured persons, to be located in the counties of Schuylkill, Carbon, Dauphin, Northumberland and Columbia, to be called the state hospital for injured ijersons of the antliracite coal region, and for the management of the same, and making an appropriation therefor.
Act 169 of 1881 · P.L. 157 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation to the Eastern Penitentiary for the salaries of officers, repairs, boolts and stationer^'for library, and gratuities to discharged convicts.
Act of 1881 · P.L. 159 · June 11, 1881 · Scanned page
No. Y. In the Senate, March 2i^ 1881.
Act of 1881 · P.L. 159 · March 24, 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation for the support of tlie Pennsylvania Institution for ttie Instruction of the Blind.
Act 172 of 1881 · P.L. 160 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making appropriations for the support of the House of Refuge in the city of Philadeliahia.
Act 173 of 1881 · P.L. 160 · June 11, 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation for normal schools for the years beginning the first Monday in June, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine and eighty.
Act 174 of 1881 · P.L. 161 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation to the Northern Home for Friendless Children, at Pliiladelphia.
Act 175 of 1881 · P.L. 161 · 1881 · Scanned page
To prevent the burning of the woods in any of the counties of this commonwealth.
Act 176 of 1881 · P.L. 162 · 1881 · Scanned page
To make an appropriation for the continuance of the geological survey of the state.
Act 177 of 1881 · P.L. 162 · 1881 · Scanned page
For the protection of the fishing interests of the state.
Act 178 of 1881 · P.L. 163 · 1881 · Scanned page
To provide for the expenses required by an act, entitled "An act to provide for the continuance of the education and maintenance of the destitute orphans of the deceased soldiers and sailors, and the destitute children of permanently disabled soldiers and sailors of the state.
Act 179 of 1881 · P.L. 164 · 1881 · Scanned page
To provide for the current expenses of the board of public charities, for the year commencing on the first day of June, Anno Domini one tiiousand eight hundred and seventy-nine, and also for the year commencing on the first day of June, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Act 180 of 1881 · P.L. 165 · June 11, 1881 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to enable citj^ county, township and borough tax collectors to collect taxes, for the payment of which they have become personally liable without having collected the same but by expiration of the authority of their respective warrants, and to extend the time for collection of the same for a period of one year from the passage of the act passed June twelfth, one
Act 181 of 1881 · P.L. 166 · 1881 · Scanned page
To repeal so much of an act of assembly approved the twentj^-fourth day of February, Anno Domini one thousand eight liundred and forty-seven, as makes the bridge across tlae Brokenstraw creek, at Irvine, in the township of Brokenstraw and county of Warren, a county bridge.
Act 182 of 1881 · P.L. 167 · June 11, 1881 · Scanned page
To repeal an act, entitled "An act for the protection of sheep in Waj'^ne county," approved April tenth, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three. Act repealed.
Act 183 of 1881 · P.L. 168 · 1881 · Scanned page
Making an appropriation to the state hospital for the insane for the South-Eastern district of Pennsylvania, for furnishing, insuring and equipping the said institution, and for maintaining the same for the year eighteen liundred and eighty.
Act 185 of 1881 · P.L. 169 · 1881 · Scanned page
Kepealing the provisions of an act, entitled "An act to regulate proceedings in relation to the erection and repairing of bridges in West niorelund county," approved the eighteenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, so far as it applies to Perry county, under section first of the jirovisions of the act approved March twenty-fifih, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Act 186 of 1881 · P.L. 170 · 1881 · Scanned page
Relating to the sale of the property of bridge companies.
Act 188 of 1881 · P.L. 173 · 1881 · Scanned page
Directing the printing and distribution of the reports of the commissioners of the geological survey for the use of the senate and house of representatives.
Act 189 of 1881 · P.L. 173 · 1881 · Scanned page
To provide for the holding of courts in certain cities of this commonwealth. Holding of courts,
Act 190 of 1881 · P.L. 174 · 1881 · Scanned page
To enable laborers to secure and collect their pay for work done in and about the stocking of saw-logs.
Act 191 of 1881 · P.L. 176 · 1881 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An act to provide for the incorporation and regulation of certain corporations," approved April twenty-ninth, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
Act 193 of 1881 · P.L. 177 · 1881 · Scanned page
Providing for the printing of copies of tlie general laws. Edition of
Act 194 of 1881 · P.L. 178 · 1881 · Scanned page
To repeal an act, entitled "An act incoi-porating the Wliite Deer Improvement Company," and the supplements theretj.
Act 195 of 1881 · P.L. 178 · 1881 · Scanned page
To regulate the manufacture and sale of comniercial fertilizers.
Act 197 of 1881 · P.L. 180 · 1881 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act relating to the liens of mechanics and others upon buildings, approved tlie sixteenth day of June, Anno Domini one thousand eiglit hundred and thirty-six, and extending its provisions to embrace liens of mechanics and laborers upon leasehold estates and property thereon. Debts contracted
Act 198 of 1881 · P.L. 182 · June 28, 1881 · Scanned page
Granting a pension to Edwin Hatch, fatlier of the late Ryland Hatch.
Act 199 of 1881 · P.L. 184 · 1881 · Scanned page
Preamble. In the House or Representatives, February U, 1879.
Act 6 of 1881 · P.L. 199 · 1881 · Scanned page
Providing for the election of members of the select council of cities of the fifth class, where said cities have not been divided into wards.
Act 1 of 1881 · February 12, 1881 · Scanned page
To provide for changing the location of the principal office of certain corporations.
Act 1 of 1881 · 1881 · Scanned page
To repeal an act, entitled "An act authorizing the election of additional supervisors in Middle Paxton township, in the county of Dauphin.
Act 2 of 1881 · 1881 · Scanned page
To consolidate the offices of receiver of taxes and collector of outstanding or delinquent taxes, to invest the said receiver with all the powers and privileges, and to impose upon him all the duties and liabilities of said collector, and for the more efficient collection of taxes in cities of the first class.
Act 2 of 1881 · February 14, 1881 · Scanned page
To ascertain and appoint the fees to be received by the recorder of deeds in and for the counties in this commonwealth containing more than tive hundred thousand (500,000) inhabitants. Fees fixed.
Act 3 of 1881 · 1881 · 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.