The Poor Act 1555 (2 & 3 Ph. & M. c. 5) was an act of the Parliament of England passed by Queen Mary I. It is a part of the Tudor Poor Laws.
The act extended the Poor Act 1551 (5 & 6 Edw. 6. c. 2) and added a provision that licensed beggars must wear badges. The provision requiring badges was added to shame local community members into donating more alms to their parish for poor relief.Paul Slack, The English Poor Law 1531-1782 59--60
Provisions Section 10 of the act provided that the act would remain in force until the end of the next parliament.
Subsequent developments The whole act was continued until the end of the next parliament by the Continuance of Laws Act 1558 (1 Eliz. 1. c. 18).
The whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125), which came into force on 28 July 1863.
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