New state law seeks to reduce the number of child brides in Texas – Texas Tribune

Texas has one of the highest child marriage rates in the country, but a new law seeks to change that.

In May, Texas joined a growing number of states cracking down on child marriage when Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 1705, which bans anyone under 16 from marrying. The law by state Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano — which went into effect Sept. 1 – also requires people under 18 to get a judge’s consent before marrying.

The new law is about “not forcing women into marriage before their time,” said state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, the House sponsor of the measure.

Read more here: https://www.texastribune.org/2017/09/26/new-law-seeks-reduce-number-child-brides-texas/