Ohio Lawmakers Move to End Child Marriage to Strengthen Child Protection
A bipartisan push at the Ohio Statehouse is renewing a national conversation about child protection, bodily autonomy and the lasting harm caused when children are allowed to marry under the law.
Senate Bill 341, introduced by Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) and Sen. Louis Blessing III (R-Colerain Township), would raise Ohio’s legal marriage age to 18 with no exceptions. Lawmakers and child protection advocates say the change is necessary to fully safeguard children’s rights and close a loophole that can expose them to coercion, abuse and lifelong consequences.
Under current Ohio law, a 17-year-old may marry with juvenile court approval after counseling and a waiting period. Parental consent is not required, and the law allows a four-year age gap. Supporters of the bill argue that these conditions do not adequately protect children, especially when pressure from adults, family members or partners is involved.
“This is not about limiting freedom,” DeMora said. “It’s about recognizing that children are still developing and deserve protection from legal arrangements that can permanently alter their lives.”
Why child marriage is a safeguarding issue
Child protection experts consistently warn that marriage before adulthood carries serious risks. Children who marry are more likely to experience domestic violence, leave school early, face economic instability and suffer long-term physical and mental health consequences. Once married, a child may also lose access to key protections, including juvenile courts, child welfare systems and shelters designed for minors.
Advocates say judicial approval and premarital counseling cannot reliably identify coercion or power imbalances, particularly when the pressure comes from trusted adults.
“Marriage is an adult legal contract,” said one child rights advocate. “Children should not be placed in a position where the law binds them to an adult relationship they may not be able to leave safely.”
Data underscores the concern. A 2017 report by the Ohio Women’s Public Policy Network found that between 2000 and 2015, nearly 4,400 girls aged 17 or younger were married in Ohio, some as young as 14. While Ohio updated its marriage laws in 2019, advocates say the remaining exception still puts children at risk.
Children’s rights under international standards
The push to end child marriage also aligns with international child rights standards. UNICEF and the United Nations have long identified child marriage as a violation of human rights.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which UNICEF promotes globally, children have the right to protection from abuse, the right to education, the right to health, and the right to make decisions free from exploitation and coercion. While the United States has signed but not ratified the CRC, its principles are widely recognized as best practices for child safeguarding.
UNICEF has repeatedly called for an end to child marriage worldwide, stating that it undermines children’s development and disproportionately affects girls. The organization emphasizes that marriage before 18 often strips children of their ability to exercise basic rights and increases their vulnerability to violence and exploitation.
Supporters of Senate Bill 341 say Ohio’s law should reflect these standards.
“If we recognize that children cannot sign contracts, vote, or consent to many adult decisions, it makes no sense to allow them to enter marriage,” said a safeguarding advocate familiar with the legislation.
A growing national shift
Ohio is not alone in reconsidering its laws. Several states, including Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York, have already enacted bans on marriage under 18 with no exceptions. Advocates argue that a clear age limit creates stronger, enforceable protections and removes ambiguity that can be exploited.
Blessing, a Republican co-sponsor, said the issue transcends party lines. “This is about protecting children from harm and making sure our laws reflect that responsibility,” he said.
