Child marriage could soon be a thing of the past in Michigan as the state’s House and Senate voted on Wednesday and Thursday to ban child marriage.
Under the new legislation, Michiganders aged 16 and 17 will require written consent from a parent or guardian to get married. However, if approved by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the legal age for marriage will be raised to 18.
The bills, known as House Bills 4293-4302 and Senate Bills 209-217 and 246, not only ban marriage for those under 18 but also eliminate exceptions allowing minors to enter into a marriage contract with parental consent. The legislation also seeks to prevent probate judges from marrying minors and prohibit parents from authorizing marriages of underage children.
These bills also involve the removal of marriage-related exceptions from criminal sexual conduct violations that are currently available to teachers, school employees, administrators, and others.
Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell
