Gavin Newsom signs bill to ban child marriage in California
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation to ban child marriage in California, establishing 18 as the minimum age to marry or enter a domestic partnership.
Gov. Gavin Newsom approved Assembly Bill 1276 on Wednesday to set age limits for weddings across California. The measure establishes 18 as the minimum age to marry or enter a domestic partnership.
Women’s advocacy groups offered vocal support for the new statutory standard. Previously, state law had no age floor. Minors could wed with parental consent and a judge’s approval.
“This victory belongs to the survivors who have courageously shared their experiences of abuse and exploitation time and time again to ensure that not one more child is subjected to the harms of child marriage,” said Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, D-Santa Cruz.
Survivor Courtney Stodden, a model, wed actor Doug Hutchinson at 16 when he was over 30 years older. She pledged in a Wednesday release to fight for similar restrictions nationwide.
“California is a victory, but I’m not stopping here. I will keep fighting until children are protected from marriage in all 50 states.”
Mississippi and New Mexico remain the only other states lacking a minimum age floor. A 2025 study from Unchained at Last counted over 300,000 minor marriages nationwide between 2000 and 2018.
The American Civil Liberties Union opposed the measure during a Senate committee hearing. The group stated marriage offers vital legal protections for pregnant youths and young parents. The ACLU also claimed the rule denies minors rights guaranteed under the state constitution.
Kendall Evans, advocacy manager for Unchained at Last, claimed existing provisions undermined statutory rape statutes.
“Having sex with a minor is a crime. You can go to jail. But if you first marry the minor, then you’re all clear.”
A legislative act takes effect on a designated calendar date following an executive signing. State agencies then align administrative marriage licensing protocols with the new statutory requirements.
The state will join 17 other states with complete bans on Jan. 1, 2027. That timeline was confirmed by Newsom’s press office.
