Politics
California outlaws child marriage, becoming the 18th US state to do so
October 2, 2026 at 02:25 AM
Coverage
2 reports · 1 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 10 hours
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a law banning marriage for anyone under 18, making the state the 18th to outlaw the practice.
- Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1267 on Wednesday, prohibiting marriage licenses and domestic partnerships for minors, effective January 1, 2027.
- California previously set no minimum marriage age, allowing minors of any age to marry with parental consent and a judge's approval.
- Courtney Stodden, married at 16, said survivors should never have carried this burden and pledged to fight until children are protected in all 50 states.
- Unchained At Last, the advocacy group behind the legislation, says about 9,000 children marry in the state each year, most girls marrying adult men.