The Texas House of Representatives has passed a bill that would ban child marriage in the state, closing a legal loophole that has allowed minors to wed under certain conditions. House Bill 168, authored by Rep. Jon Rosenthal (D-Houston), received an 87-48 vote in favor and now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
The bill would prohibit counties from issuing marriage licenses to anyone under 18, even if they are legally emancipated, effectively nullifying any existing marriages involving minors. Advocates argue that the measure is necessary to prevent exploitation, citing cases where significant age gaps between spouses have raised concerns about coercion and abuse.
Opponents of the bill have raised questions about its impact on legally emancipated minors and relationships protected under Romeo and Juliet laws, which allow for close-in-age exceptions. Rosenthal has stated that he will withdraw the bill if such provisions are added, emphasizing his commitment to ending child marriage without exceptions.
The bill now heads to the Texas Senate, where it will face committee review and additional votes before potentially becoming law. If passed, Texas would join a growing number of states that have moved to eliminate child marriage entirely.
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