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Senate raises minimum marriage age to 16 with judicial and parental approval for 16–17-year-olds
Summary
After extended debate about insurance and cross‑border implications, the Utah Senate approved a bill that would ban marriage at age 15 and make 16 the minimum, while preserving a court-and-parental permission process for 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate voted to raise the minimum age for marriage from 15 to 16, voting 22–2 to approve the second substitute to House Bill 234.
Sponsor Sen. Luz Escamilla, D‑Salt Lake City, told the chamber the change is intended to protect children entering a lifelong contractual relationship too young to make that decision. "A 15 year old is not ready to make that commitment," Escamilla said in summation, and the bill preserves a parental and judicial review process for 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds who…
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