Newsom signs bill banning child marriage in California
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 1267, setting California's minimum marriage age at 18 with no exceptions and closing a loophole that let children of any age marry with parental consent.
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation banning child marriage in California, setting the minimum age for marriage and domestic partnerships at 18 with no exceptions.
Newsom signed AB 1267, authored by Assemblywoman Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz), in his office on Wednesday. The bill repeals provisions that allowed minors to marry or enter domestic partnerships with parental consent and court approval. It was sponsored by Unchained at Last and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and takes effect in January.
“This is a long overdue measure to protect young Californians and minors. Today, California kids are safer than ever before,” Newsom said.
The bill passed unanimously in the state senate and then the assembly in August, capping a nearly decade-long campaign. California was one of only three US states with no statutory minimum marriage age — Mississippi and New Mexico are the other two — and campaigners say roughly 35,000 marriages involving minors took place in the state between 2000 and 2021,
Newsom signed the bill alongside advocate Courtney Stodden, whose parents allowed her to marry 50-year-old actor Doug Hutchison when she was 16.
“The heart of this effort has always been the survivors,” Pellerin said. “They told us what it means to be a child in a marriage you did not freely choose… Because of them, California children are safer.”
Seventeen US states have completely banned child marriage without exception, according to the governor’s office; campaigners say 32 states still allow it.
Sources
- Office of the Governor of California, “Governor Newsom signs bill to ban child marriage” (30 Sept 2026): https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/30/governor-newsom-signs-bill-to-ban-child-marriage/
- MyNewsLA, “Newsom Signs Child Marriage Ban Sought by Tustin Group” (30 Sept 2026): https://mynewsla.com/business/2026/09/30/newsom-signs-child-marriage-ban-sought-by-tustin-group/
- Equality Now, “California finally passes law banning child marriage” (30 Sept 2026): https://equalitynow.org/news/press-releases/california-finally-passes-law-banning-child-marriage/
- Unchained at Last, “We banned child marriage in CA!”: https://unchainedatlast.org/we-banned-child-marriage-in-ca/
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