U.S. lawmakers have reintroduced federal legislation aimed at addressing child marriage, defined as any marriage involving at least one party under age 18.
The Child Marriage Prevention Act was reintroduced on or around July 17, 2026, by Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois, Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Brian Schatz of Hawaii, and Reps. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin and Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois.
The bill seeks to incentivize states to raise the minimum marriage age to 18 with no exceptions, close federal immigration loopholes related to spousal and fiancé visas, prohibit child marriages on federally funded property, and provide model legislation and grant funding tied to state action. It marks the first coordinated federal effort to tackle the issue domestically.
The bill was first introduced in 2024 and has been reintroduced in the current Congress.
Prevalence and State Laws
Child marriage remains legal with exceptions in 34 states as of mid-2026. Seventeen states plus Washington, D.C., have enacted full bans setting the minimum age at 18 with no exceptions: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
As of mid-2026, three states have no statutory minimum marriage age when all exemptions (such as parental consent or judicial approval) are taken into account: California, Mississippi, and New Mexico. Two states set the minimum at 15 (Hawaii and Kansas), 20 states set it at 16, and eight states set it at 17.
In Texas, the minimum age to marry is 18. However, legally emancipated minors aged 16 or 17 may marry with court approval. This limited exception remains after a 2017 reform that significantly tightened the state’s previous laws. Efforts to close the loophole entirely and set a strict age-18 floor with no exceptions have been introduced in recent legislative sessions but have not yet passed.
Federal Bill Details and Incentives
The Child Marriage Prevention Act would establish a National Commission to Combat Child Marriage, require a Government Accountability Office report on impacts, and direct the Attorney General to issue a model state statute prohibiting the practice. It includes incentives such as increased funding from the Office on Violence Against Women for states that ban child marriage and grants for task forces in states that have not yet done so.
On immigration, the bill would require U.S. petitioners for spousal or fiancé visas to be at least 18 and to have been 18 at the time of marriage, with limited exceptions. It would also replace a consummation requirement for proxy marriages with a rule requiring the parties to have met in person within two years prior to the ceremony. Child marriage would be prohibited on federal property, including military bases.
The bill builds on state-level progress. Oklahoma became the 17th state (plus D.C.) to ban child marriage entirely in 2026, with the law taking effect November 1.
Numbers and Trends
Between 2000 and 2021, nearly 315,000 minors were legally married in the United States, according to analysis of marriage certificate data by Unchained At Last. Eighty-six percent were girls, most married to adult men.
Data indicate the vast majority of cases involve girls wed to significantly older men rather than peer marriages.
A 2021 study covering 2000–2018 identified approximately 297,000 such marriages, with numbers declining from over 76,000 in 2000 to about 2,493 in 2018. At least 66,000 involved circumstances that could have qualified as a sex crime under state law.
Context and Support
The reintroduction follows years of advocacy by organizations including Tahirih Justice Center, Unchained At Last, and survivors. The bill has endorsements from groups such as Tahirih Justice Center, Too Young to Wed, and Girls Not Brides.
Supporters argue it addresses gaps where federal immigration processes and lack of uniform state standards have allowed the practice to continue. Opponents of child marriage across states have cited risks including higher rates of domestic violence, reduced educational attainment, and health impacts, though the legislation itself contains no mandates on states.
Current Status
The Child Marriage Prevention Act of 2026 was reintroduced in both the House and Senate in mid-July 2026. It has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. No committee hearings or votes have been scheduled yet. Supporters are urging members of Congress to cosponsor the bill and push for its advancement in the current session.
Provided by Dallas Express
