TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – The Florida House has passed a bill that would make it illegal for anyone under the age of 16 to get married.
The bill (HB 1279) sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Stafford, D-Opa Locka, prohibits minors 15 or younger from being able to get permission to marry. It passed 116-0. The accompanying Senate bill (SB 1498) has two more committee stops before reaching the floor.
If approved, Florida would join 13 other states that totally ban marriage for someone under 16.
Current law requires a minor who is 16 or 17 years old to get parental consent before marrying. But minors younger than that get married if they have a child or if the bride is pregnant.
Last year there were 9 marriages that included a minor under 16.
