Mmastodon WorldUS Politics first seen 6 h ago, last 3 min ago, peak #4
California bans child marriage, joining 17 other states
Original: California outlaws child marriage, joining 17 other US states https://www. theguardian.com/us-news/2026/o ct/01/californ
California has outlawed child marriage, becoming the 18th US state to ban the practice outright. The move, reported on 1 October 2026, ends a system that had allowed minors to wed under certain conditions. Supporters of such bans argue marriage under 18 exposes children to coercion and abuse, while debate continues in the remaining states over where to set the minimum age.
Why now: California joining a growing list of states banning child marriage is a notable shift in US state legislation on children's rights.
CaliforniaUnited StatesGavin Newsom
Evidence
- California outlaws child marriage, joining 17 other US states https://www. theguardian.com/us-news/2026/o ct/01/california-outlaws-child-marriage # California # ChildMarriage # LawUs # GavinNewsom # UsNews # WestCoast # Children # UsPolitics # Society · theguardian_us_news@halo.nu · 4
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