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Sen. DeBoer proposes raising Nebraska’s minimum marriage age to 18
Summary
Sen. Wendy DeBoer introduced LB 984 to change the minimum age to marry from 17 to 18, citing risks of forced marriage and alignment with other states; she said the bill may require technical fixes because Nebraska’s age of majority is 19.
Sen. Wendy DeBoer told the Judiciary Committee LB 984 would raise the minimum age of consent for marriage from 17 to 18 to better protect minors from forced marriages and trafficking tactics. DeBoer illustrated the risk of coercion in vulnerable families with a hypothetical scenario and said 18 aligns with other adult responsibilities such as voting and military service.
She noted a technical complication: Nebraska’s age of majority remains 19, which could create a gap for court protections for an 18‑year‑old. DeBoer said she chose 18 rather than 19 to match most states but is willing to work with colleagues on technical language to avoid unintended consequences.
No proponents or opponents in the room offered extended debate; the sponsor waived closing and the committee concluded the hearing for the day.
