Rajwa Quasim, The American Bazaar
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation banning child marriage in the state, closing a longstanding loophole that allowed children under 18 to marry with parental consent and approval from a judge.
“This is a long-overdue measure to protect young Californians and minors. Today, California kids are safer than ever before,” Newsom said.
Assembly Bill 1267 passed the California Legislature in August and was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 30. The law will take effect Jan. 1, 2027. California is now the 18th U.S. state to completely prohibit child marriage.
The bill was authored by Santa Cruz Assemblymember Gail Pellerin.
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Until now, California was one of only three states without a minimum age for marriage. The other two were Mississippi and New Mexico. The absence of a minimum age drew criticism from domestic and international human rights organizations, including Unchained At Last. In 2023, the U.N. Human Rights Committee called on the United States to prohibit marriage involving anyone under 18.
Pellerin said, “For more than nine years, legislators who came before us, colleagues serving today, survivors and advocates have worked to move California toward ending child marriage. AB 1267 is about one simple principle: Children belong in classrooms, playgrounds and with adults who are raising them — not attempting to marry them.”
