Gov. signed AB 1267 on Sept. 30, 2026, banning child marriage in California, the governor’s office said. “This is a long overdue measure to protect young Californians and minors,” Newsom said.
The bill repeals provisions that allow a minor to enter into a marriage or domestic partnership with parental consent and sets the state’s minimum marriage and domestic partnership age at 18, the release said.
The governor signed the bill in his office with advocate Courtney Stodden, whose parents allowed her to marry actor Doug Hutchison when she was 16, a relationship Stodden characterizes as abusive and predatory. The release says Stodden has since struggled with chronic depression and suicide attempts and has become a national leader in the fight against child exploitation. Stodden said, "California is a victory, but I’m not stopping here. I will keep fighting until children are protected from marriage in all 50 states."
Assemblymember (D-Santa Cruz), the bill’s author, credited survivors who described coercion and abuse hidden behind the appearance of consent. “The heart of this effort has always been the survivors,” Pellerin said. “Because of them, California children are safer.”
Seventeen U.S. states have completely banned child marriage without exception, the release said. The bill was sponsored by Unchained at Last and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.
Under the new law, minors in California may no longer marry or enter domestic partnerships, even with parental consent.
State
Gavin Newsom
Governor · Democrat
Named 4 times in this story.
Portrait: Official portrait
State
Gail Pellerin
State Assembly Member · Democrat
Named 2 times in this story.
Portrait: Official portrait
Sources & methodology
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