California Senate unanimously backs bill to set marriage age at 18

California's upper chamber gave unanimous support to Assembly Bill 1267, a proposal that would raise the legal marriage age to 18 and close existing exemptions that allow minors to wed with parental and court approval. The vote was celebrated by former child bride Courtney Stodden, who posted a video on Instagram describing the outcome as "incredible news" and recounting her own marriage at 16 to actor Doug Hutchison. Stodden has been actively testifying before legislators, emphasizing that a marriage license does not grant a minor adult rights or resources.

Under current state law, a judge must interview a minor and a parent before issuing a license, but the new bill would remove that discretion entirely. The unanimous Senate decision marks a significant victory, yet the measure now moves to the Assembly Judiciary Committee for further consideration. Stodden called on the public to reach out to their Assembly representatives to ensure the bill's passage.