California legislature votes to ban child marriage, protect forced marriage victims

California is poised to become the 18th state to completely ban child marriage, following the state legislature's passage of two significant bills aimed at protecting minors. Assembly Bill 1267 establishes an absolute ban on child marriage by repealing provisions that allowed individuals under 18 to marry with parental consent and a court order. This legislation closes a loophole that previously permitted underage marriages.

In addition to banning child marriage, Assembly Bill 2534 addresses forced marriage by incorporating it into the state's Domestic Violence Prevention Act. This bill empowers individuals to protect themselves by allowing victims to secure civil restraining orders against anyone who coerces, facilitates, or arranges an unwanted union. This measure is set to create the first forced marriage protection order in the country.

Both bills now await the signature of Governor Gavin Newsom. If signed into law, the legislation will take effect on January 1, 2027. Advocates and survivors, such as those from the group "Unchained at Last," have been instrumental in pushing for these changes, highlighting the urgent need to end child and forced marriages.

Under the current California law, an unmarried person under 18 could marry with a court order and parental consent. The new legislation defines forced marriage as a spousal relationship where one or both parties cannot consent and are compelled into the union through force, fraud, coercion, duress, abuse of power, or coercive control. The bill also allows for all individuals involved in arranging, officiating, financing, or facilitating a forced marriage to be included as respondents in a restraining order action.