Overview
- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1267 on Sept. 30, establishing 18 as the minimum age for marriage and domestic partnerships and repealing prior exceptions for parental consent and judge approval.
- The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, and applies to future marriages, with reporting indicating it likely will not automatically dissolve marriages already entered into by minors.
- Survivor-led groups such as Unchained at Last and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls drove the campaign, and survivors who testified at hearings were central to persuading lawmakers.
- Civil-rights and reproductive-rights groups, including the ACLU and earlier opposition from Planned Parenthood, warned that blanket bans could limit minors’ access to legal benefits, healthcare and parental rights protections, a concern that shaped debate over the bill.
- California becomes the 18th state to enact a total ban on child marriage, but gaps in official data and unresolved issues around immigration-based visa routes and access to services mean national advocacy and possible federal action are likely to continue.