California legislators are on the verge of approving a measure that would eliminate underage marriage in the state, closing a loophole that has allowed minors to marry with parental or guardian consent.
At present, California is among a small group of states — three in total — where a person under 18 can legally marry regardless of age, provided a parent or guardian signs off. The new bill would remove that provision entirely, setting no exceptions for underage marriage going forward.
Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, who introduced the legislation, said protecting minors is the driving force behind the bill. She pointed out that California’s age of sexual consent is 18, with one exception: cases where the minor is already married to the older partner. Closing the marriage loophole, she argued, removes that legal gap.
Courtney Stodden, who has spent close to a decade campaigning against child marriage nationwide, has been one of the most visible voices pushing lawmakers to act. Stodden’s own experience shaped her advocacy — at 16, she married actor Doug Hutchison, then 51, after her mother consented to the union in 2011. According to Stodden, the relationship began through acting classes her mother enrolled her in, and Hutchison built trust with her mother over time before the marriage took place.
Supporters of the bill cite data showing roughly 35,000 minors were married in the U.S. between 2000 and 2021, the large majority of them girls. Advocates say ending the practice is essential to shielding children from exploitation and abuse.
California is not alone in confronting this issue — 33 other states currently permit marriage before age 18, though most impose some age-related restrictions. If the bill clears the legislature, it will head to Governor Gavin Newsom, who is expected to sign it into law.