Kentucky Senate passes bill to eliminate remaining child marriage exception

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Kentucky Senate has passed a bill aimed at closing what lawmakers say is the final loophole allowing child marriage in the state.

State Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, sponsored Senate Bill 156, which would establish 18 as the clear and enforceable minimum age for marriage in Kentucky.

The legislation builds on a 2018 law also sponsored by Adams that raised the minimum marriage age and largely ended legal child marriage in the commonwealth. However, that law still allowed a limited judicial exception for 17-year-olds.

Supporters of the new bill say that exception has not always been applied consistently.

“Ending child marriage in 2018 was an essential step forward,” Adams said in a statement. “But a law on the books is only as strong as its enforcement. If there is confusion or inconsistency, we have a responsibility to correct it.”

According to a release, lawmakers heard testimony during committee hearings from a survivor of child marriage who described the long-term effects of being married as a minor. Advocates say such stories highlight why clear legal protections are needed.

In addition to removing the judicial exception, the bill would strengthen proof-of-age requirements when couples apply for a marriage license and repeal outdated provisions in state law to ensure the rules are applied consistently statewide.

“This legislation is about making sure Kentucky’s laws reflect a clear standard and that children are protected in practice, not just in theory,” Adams said. “Marriage is a significant legal and personal commitment with lifelong consequences.”

SB 156 now heads to the Kentucky House of Representatives for consideration.