California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation banning child marriage in the state, making California the 17th U.S. state to prohibit marriage involving minors without exceptions.
Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1267, introduced by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, Democrat of Santa Cruz, at his office on Wednesday.
The law repeals provisions that previously allowed minors to marry or enter domestic partnerships with parental consent and establishes 18 as the minimum age for marriage and domestic partnership in California.
The signing ceremony was attended by Courtney Stodden, a prominent advocate against child marriage and a survivor who was permitted by her parents to marry actor Doug Hutchison at age 16.
Stodden described her experience as abusive and predatory and has since become an advocate for stronger protections against child exploitation.
“Governor Newsom’s action today made clear to me and to survivors of child marriage everywhere that we should never have been expected to carry this burden,” Stodden said.
She thanked Unchained At Last and other survivors who campaigned for the legislation, adding that she would continue advocating for a nationwide ban on child marriage.
“The heart of this effort has always been the survivors,” Pellerin said, noting that survivors had shared experiences of coercion, abuse and difficulties seeking help or leaving marriages.
The legislation was sponsored by Unchained At Last and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.
Newsom said the measure was aimed at strengthening protections for minors, declaring that California children are now “safer than ever before.”
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