California has become the 18th state to outlaw marriages involving minors when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill that will take effect on January 1. The law sets the minimum marriage age at 18, eliminating the previous provisions that allowed children to wed with parental consent.
Newsom called the measure “overdue” and highlighted the case of Brittany Bee—who was 16 when she married a 50‑year‑old actor—as a catalyst for the change. Bee, now a vocal advocate, celebrated the bill as a “victory” and urged continued pressure on other states.
Despite the ban, child marriage remains legal in 32 U.S. states, where it is estimated that almost all cases involve young girls married to older men. Unchained At Last, an advocacy group, reports that about 9,000 girls in California were married each year before the ban.
Survivors such as Sara Tasneen, who was forced to wed at 15, say the new law is a necessary step toward recognizing that minors cannot give informed consent. Tasneen began lobbying for the bill in 2017 and credits the march toward repeal to grassroots activism.
The ban could influence other jurisdictions, with some states already revising their statutes. National discussions now focus on harmonizing marriage laws with protections for younger citizens.
