Bipartisan legislation hopes to ban child marriage in Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — After falling short during session last year, there’s a new bipartisan push to ban child marriage in Missouri.

Right now, in Missouri, 16- and 17-year-olds can get married to anyone under 21 if they have parental consent. This legislation would eliminate that loophole by prohibiting marriage licenses to those under the age of 18.

Those supporting the bill said this protects children from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.

“I ask that you please support that if I’m not old enough to vote, I shouldn’t be old enough to get married,” Sheena Eastburn testified Wednesday. “I support that we don’t make more victims to child marriage in Missouri. That we stand and be the state that says no more.”

The full article is available at ozarksfirst.com.

(Story by Emily Manley, ozarksfirst.com)