Utah senators gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that raises the state’s minimum marriage age to 15, and requires both parental consent and judicial approval for older teens to marry.
“This state has made very, very heavy statements about marriage and how much we care about marriage,” said Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, the bill’s Senate sponsor. “I think a 15-year old is not ready to make that commitment.”
Current state law sets 15 as the minimum marriage age with judicial approval, and only a parent’s consent required at age 16 and 17.