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Senate passes bill to strengthen protections against child marriage
Summary
On March 2, 2026, the Kentucky Senate passed Senate Bill 156, which builds on 2018 reforms to restrict child marriage, improve enforcement, increase transparency, and provide additional training for officials; the Senate approved the bill 36-0.
The Kentucky Senate on March 2 passed Senate Bill 156, a measure intended to strengthen enforcement and oversight of laws restricting child marriage. The sponsor, identified as the senator from Jefferson 36, said the bill builds on 2018 bipartisan reforms that ended marriage under age 17 and added judicial oversight and age-difference limits for 17-year-olds.
The sponsor told the chamber that child marriages continue to occur in some Kentucky counties and said SB156 adds accountability, transparency and improved training for officials responsible for issuing and recording marriage documents. "Every day we delay strengthening this law is another day that a child is put at risk," the sponsor said.
There were no recorded objections during floor debate. The Senate approved SB156 by a roll call recorded as 36 yays and no nays.
The bill's sponsor characterized the measure as finishing work begun in 2018 while emphasizing enforcement and administrative clarity for officials; the Senate adopted the bill without recorded opposition and it will proceed under legislative processing for the next steps.
