California Moves Closer to Banning All Child Marriage

Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (San Jose) authored AB 1267, which would set the minimum legal age for marriage at 18 with no exceptions. The state Senate unanimously passed the measure, and it now returns to the Assembly for a final vote before heading to Governor Gavin Newsom. If approved, the new minimum would take effect on January 1, 2027.

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California is one of three states that allow minors to marry with a court order and parental or guardian consent, lacking a statutory minimum age. The bill, approved by the House in 2025, seeks to eliminate those exceptions. Advocacy groups have pushed for the change for nine years, highlighting cases where minors were married to significantly older adults.

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• An analysis by the survivor-led nonprofit Unchained at Last estimates roughly 35,000 marriages involving minors occurred in the state between 2000 and 2021, the vast majority involving underage girls and adult men.

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• CBS 8 reports that California counties logged 83 marriages of minors to the Department of Public Health between 2019 and 2025, though county-level records show dozens of discrepancies, underscoring gaps in official data.

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The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) California Action remains the sole organization publicly opposing AB 1267. It argues that lawmakers should await comprehensive data collection, noting that existing records are incomplete and that a blanket ban could push minors in abusive relationships away from needed social services. Earlier opposition from Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California has reportedly been withdrawn.

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• “So many survivors of child marriage have been fighting for over nine years trying to get this bill passed,” — Courtney Stodden, former child bride and advocate

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• “This is what predators don't think about: their victims grow up,” — Courtney Stodden

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• “Like most abused children, I chose lying to a judge over risking escalation at home,” — Christina Sutton, former child bride

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• “California must protect our kids and end child marriage once and for all,” — Gail Pellerin, bill author

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