FIU professor Sandy Skelaney and graduate student Allison Sardinas have been making the rounds in Tallahassee on a mission to end child marriage in Florida.

They recently met with 24 senators and representatives to gain support for Senate Bill 140 and House Bill 335, which would prevent anyone under 18 from getting a marriage license.

In Florida, children who are 16 or 17 years old are allowed to marry with the consent of both sets of parents. There is also no minimum age for marriage under the law if a girl is pregnant, as long as there is judicial approval. The proposed bills would close these loopholes once and for all, which are being exploited to marry children.

Professor, student lobby to end child marriage in Florida – FIU News