California enacts ban on child marriage

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law a ban on child marriage, according to NPR, making the state the latest to restrict a practice that remains legal in parts of the United States and widespread in some countries abroad.

The law closes exceptions that previously allowed minors to marry under certain circumstances, often with parental or judicial consent. Supporters of such bans argue they protect minors from coerced or exploitative marriages, while some critics of blanket bans have raised concerns about narrow cases involving older teenagers.

California joins a number of other U.S. states that have moved in recent years to eliminate or significantly restrict child marriage, reflecting a broader national trend following advocacy from groups focused on children's rights and gender-based violence prevention.

Globally, child marriage remains common in various regions despite legal prohibitions, with researchers noting that enforcement and cultural practices often determine whether bans translate into reduced rates of the practice. NPR's report examined the effectiveness of such legal bans more broadly, alongside the California announcement.

The law takes its place within an ongoing patchwork of state-level marriage age regulations across the country, with advocacy groups continuing to push for more states to adopt similar measures.