Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signs bill to ban child marriages

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Washington just became the 11th state in the country to ban child marriages.

House Bill 1455 was officially signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday, making it illegal for anyone less than 18 years old to marry. Previous state law stated that 17-year-old were eligible for marriage as long as they had parental consent or if it was deemed a “necessity.”

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In a poll designed by Northwest Progressive Institute in 2023, 80% of voters voiced support for the legislation. NPI’s executive director Andrew Villeneuve attended the bill signing and said it represented a “strengthening human rights” in the state.

“The stories our team has heard from forced marriage survivors, especially those who were forced to marry before they turned 18, (shocked) the conscience,” he said. “These survivors showed a lot of courage by being willing to speak in public about what happened to them. They’ve endured horrors that no person should have to endure. This victory is for them and the young Washingtonians coming after them.”

This year, the House passed it unanimously on the first day of session, and the Senate voted to pass the bill 48-1. Republican Sen. Jeff Holy, of Spokane, cast the lone no vote.

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In Washington state, 5,048 people younger than age 18 were married between 2000 and 2021, according to the organization. Parents were forcing their children to marry in the majority of instances, according to Unchained At Last.

Oregon’s minimum marriage age is 17 while in Idaho the minimum age is 16, according to the organization.

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