California Bans Child Marriage, Ending a Practice Legal in 32 States
California has officially banned child marriage, as Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation that requires adults to be 18 to marry, effective 1 January 2027. This law removes the loophole that allowed children to wed with parental consent and a judge’s approval.
Newsom hailed the measure as “long overdue” and joined activist Brittany Bee—who was married at 16 to a 50‑year‑old actor—to sign the bill. Bee, now a vocal advocate, said the change is a “victory that will lift the burden from survivors.”
Survivors like Sara Tasneen, who wed a man almost twice her age at 15, praised the law. Tasneen began lobbying for its passage in 2017 and said she felt “surreal” that the state now recognises child marriage as unacceptable.
When enacted, the California ban joins 17 other states that outlaw child marriage—leaving only 32 states that still permit it. According to advocacy group Unchained At Last, roughly 9,000 girls were married each year in California alone, almost all to adult men.
Activists argue that many Americans remain unaware that child marriage remains legal in dozens of states, and that it fuels abuse and predatory relationships. The new law signals that protecting minors is a priority and sets a precedent for nationwide reform.
In the words of Brittany Bee, “California has sent a clear message to the world: children can be free from systemic violence.”
