California has taken a historic step by banning child marriage, declaring that anyone under 18 may not legally marry. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on December 29, marking the first time the state has fully removed the marriage‑age loophole since 2018.
The new law takes effect on January 1, 2027 and establishes 18 as the minimum age for marriage across the Golden State. Newsom described the measure as "long overdue," noting that the law protects children from a practice that often leads to abuse and exploitation.
Brittany Bee, a former child bride who married a 50‑year‑old actor at 16, was present at the signing. She welcomed the change as a victory, insisting that children should never be forced into marriage and that survivors should not bear the burden of their past.
Despite California’s progress, 32 other US states still allow child marriage under certain conditions. Advocacy groups such as Unchained At Last report that roughly 9,000 girls are married each year in California alone, often to older men in arrangements that lack proper judicial oversight.
Survivors like Sarah Tasneen, who was forced into marriage at 15, have campaigned for over a decade, and the new law gives them a concrete win. "It’s an arc people never knew could reach a close-out," Tasneen told reporters, emphasizing the broader national need for reform.
The legislation sends a clear message that the state is committed to protecting minors and signals a mid‑century trend toward eliminating child marriage across the United States. Activists continue to lobby for identical laws in every state to ensure that all children can make their own life choices free from systemic violence.
