California Enacts Law Banning Child Marriage Effective January 1, 2027

California has enacted legislation to ban child marriage, with Governor Gavin Newsom signing the bill into law. The new law, effective January 1, 2027, mandates that individuals must be at least 18 years old to marry in the state. Governor Newsom described the law as a "long overdue measure to protect young Californians and minors." The signing ceremony included Courtney Stodden, who was married at 16 to a 50-year-old actor, and has since advocated against child marriage. Stodden called the law a "victory" for survivors of child marriage, stating they should not have to bear the burden of such experiences. Other survivors, including Brittany Bee, expressed support for the legislation, emphasizing its significance for children’s rights. Bee, who was married at 17, highlighted the need for protection against systemic violence. The new law follows a trend, as California becomes the 18th state to ban child marriage since 2018. Previously, there was no minimum legal age for marriage in California, allowing minors to marry with parental consent and judicial approval. Advocacy group Unchained At Last reported that approximately 9,000 girls were married each year in California, with most cases involving marriages between girls and adult men. Survivors like Sara Tasneen, who was forced into marriage at 15, expressed relief at the law's passage, noting the long journey to achieve this change. Tasneen began lobbying for the ban in 2017 and shared her personal experience of being introduced to her husband on the day of their arranged marriage.