Summary
Wisconsin lawmakers are working on a new bill to make it illegal for anyone under 18 to get married, with no exceptions. This effort is in line with actions taken by 16 other states and several U.S. territories to end child marriage. The bill aims to remove current rules that allow 16 and 17-year-olds to marry with parental permission and addresses legal issues faced by married minors.
Key Facts
- A proposed bill would prohibit anyone under 18 from marrying in Wisconsin.
- Current Wisconsin law permits 16 and 17-year-olds to marry if they have parental consent.
- The bill seeks to remove exceptions that allow such marriages and also address related legal issues, like annulments.
- The legislation was introduced by Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Mark Spreitzer and Representative Ann Roe.
- As of 2018, 16 states and several U.S. territories have banned child marriage by setting the minimum marriage age to 18.
- The bill aims to protect minors, who are often vulnerable to abuse when married young.
- Past attempts to pass similar legislation in Wisconsin have failed to secure committee hearings or votes.
- No hearing is currently scheduled for this bill, and its future in the Republican-led Legislature is uncertain.
