In a significant move towards child protection, the New Hampshire legislature has passed a bill prohibiting marriage before the age of 18, with no exceptions. The bill, which has been introduced in four separate legislative sessions, finally crossed the legislative finish line after a long and arduous journey.
The bill, Senate Bill 359, was introduced by Democratic Senator Debra Altschiller of Stratham, with Democratic cosponsors in both the House and Senate. Advocates from the nonprofit Unchained At Last testified about the dangers of allowing minors to marry, contributing to the bill's eventual success. The Senate approved the bill in March, and the House followed suit with a 192-174 vote on Thursday.
The bill now awaits the signature of Governor Chris Sununu, who in 2018 signed a bill raising the minimum marriage age to 16, up from 13 for girls and 14 for boys. However, there is no confirmation yet on whether he will sign this new bill.
Opponents of the bill, such as Republican Representative Margaret M. Drye, argue that marriage can provide stability for 16 or 17-year-olds who understand the gravity of marital commitment. Drye expressed her concern over a rule with "no exceptions," stating that "young people need some support," which can be provided by family, marriage, or both.
However, advocates for the bill, like Democratic Representative Cassandra N. Levesque of Barrington, argue that child marriage often results from tradition, deception, and emotional manipulation, and its effects can be "devastating." Levesque, who began researching and advocating against child marriage at the age of 15, clarified that the bill is not about denying children their right to marry, but rather "delaying their right to marry until they become adults and can give full informed legal consent."
The passage of this bill marks a significant step in New Hampshire's legislative history. If signed into law by Governor Sununu, it will be the second time the state's minimum age of marriage has been raised in the past six years. The move would align New Hampshire with states like Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont, which have set the minimum age at 18 and eliminated all exceptions.
More for you:
