The Friendly Societies Act 1855 (18 & 19 Vict. c. 63) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that consolidated and amended enactments relating to friendly societies in the United Kingdom.
Leave to bring in the Friendly Societies Bill to the House of Commons was granted to Thomas Sotheron , John Bonham-Carter and Charles Adderley on 26 January 1855. The bill had its first reading in the House of Commons on 17 January 1855, presented by Thomas Sotheron . The bill had its second reading in the House of Commons on 17 January 1855 and was committed to a committee of the whole house, which met on 14 March 1855 and reported on 28 March 1855, with amendments. The amended bill was considered by the committee of the whole house, which met on 28 March 1855 and reported on 28 March 1829. The amended bill was considered by the committee of the whole house, which met and reported on 28 April 1855, with amendments. The amended bill was considered by the committee of the whole house, which met and reported on 8 June 1855, with amendments. The amended bill had its third reading in the House of Commons on 8 June 1855 and passed, without amendments.
The bill had its first reading in the House of Lords on 11 June 1855. The bill had its second reading in the House of Lords on 19 June 1855, introduced by Edward Portman, 1st Viscount Portman and was committed to a committee of the whole house, which met and reported on 26 June 1855, with amendments. The amended bill had its third reading in the House of Lords on 6 July 1855 and passed, with amendments.
The amended bill was considered and agreed to by the House of Commons on 16 July 1855.
The bill was granted royal assent on 23 July 1855.
Section 1 of the act repealed 18 enactments, listed in the first schedule to the act. Section 1 of the act also provided that the repeals would not affect anything done before the repeals.
Section 2 of the act provided that every society incorporated under previous acts would continue to be valid.
Section 3 of the act provided that all contracts and engagements under previous acts would continue to be in force.
The whole act was repealed by section 5 of, and the first schedule to, the Friendly Societies Act 1875 (38 & 39 Vict. c. 60), which consolidated and amended enactments relating to friendly societies.