The watchtower for Faith, Family, and Freedom Legislation

California AB1267: Marriage: prohibition on minors.

☆ Watch
  1. Introduced
  2. Passed Assembly
  3. Passed Senate
  4. To Governor
  5. Became Law

Overview

This bill prohibits minors from marrying in California by amending and repealing various Family Code sections related to marriage age and parental consent provisions.

Law Today

California law currently allows unmarried persons under 18 years of age to marry with a court order granting permission and written parental or guardian consent. California law also allows minors to establish domestic partnerships under similar conditions, with registered domestic partners receiving the same legal rights as spouses.

If Passed

This bill would eliminate the ability of anyone under 18 years old to obtain a marriage license or establish a domestic partnership in California, regardless of parental consent or court approval. Minors who were married under the old law before January 1, 2027, may seek to have those marriages declared void (annulled) if they choose to do so after reaching adulthood.

AI-generated from the bill text — verify against the official text.

Should I support this?

  1. Strongly Oppose
  2. Likely Oppose
  3. This billNeutral
  4. Likely Support
  5. Strongly Support

Neutral

The bill protects minors from potential exploitation and harm, which aligns with Christian values of protecting the vulnerable and innocent. However, it also eliminates parental authority to consent to marriage—a decision some Christian parents view as an infringement on their God-given responsibility to guide their children's major life choices, even with court safeguards in place.

AI assessment using F3’s editorial criteria — faith, family, and freedom. This is F3’s policy judgment; verify the provisions in the official bill text.

Likely supporters & opponents

Likely support

  • child-welfare and child-protection advocates — Prohibiting minor marriage protects vulnerable youth from potential exploitation, abuse, and loss of educational opportunity.
  • women's-rights organizations — Eliminating minor marriage, particularly for girls, prevents practices that can perpetuate gender inequality and dependence.
  • legal-reform groups — Setting a uniform age of majority for marriage aligns state law with child-protection standards and reduces administrative burden on courts.

Likely opposition

  • parental-rights advocates — The law removes parental authority to consent to their minor child's marriage, even with court oversight and consent.
  • religious organizations with traditions of earlier marriage — The prohibition conflicts with some religious and cultural practices that permit marriage before age 18 with family and community consent.

AI-inferred typical positions based on the bill’s substance — general stakeholder categories, not confirmed endorsements.

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Official summary

An act to amend Sections 297, 423, and 2210 of, and to repeal Sections 297.1, 298.8, 302, 303, 304, and 1501 of, the Family Code, and to repeal Sections 102233 and 102356 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to marriage.

Sponsors

  • Diane Dixon (R)
  • Gail Pellerin (D)
  • Cottie Petrie-Norris (D)
  • Sharon Quirk-Silva (D)
  • Caroline Menjivar (D)
  • Aisha Wahab (D)
  • Jacqui Irwin (D)
  • Susan Rubio (D)
  • Dawn Addis (D)
  • Patrick Ahrens (D)
  • Juan Alanis (R)
  • Marie Alvarado-Gil (R)
  • Josh Becker (D)
  • Marc Berman (D)
  • Catherine Blakespear (D)
  • Tasha Boerner Horvath (D)
  • Mia Bonta (D)
  • Lisa Calderon (D)
  • Jessica Caloza (D)
  • Leticia Castillo (R)
  • Celeste Rodriguez (D)
  • Heather Hadwick (R)
  • Gregg Hart (D)
  • Tom Lackey (R)
  • Josh Lowenthal (D)
  • Tina McKinnor (D)
  • Liz Ortega (D)
  • Blanca Pacheco (D)
  • Diane Papan (D)
  • Darshana Patel (D)
  • Rhodesia Ransom (D)
  • Eloise Reyes (D)
  • Laura Richardson (D)
  • Pilar Schiavo (D)
  • Esmeralda Soria (D)
  • Catherine Stefani (D)
  • Chris Ward (D)
  • Lori Wilson (D)
  • Anamarie Farias (D)

Status timeline

  1. 2026-09-30Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 850, Statutes of 2026.
  2. 2026-09-30Approved by the Governor.
  3. 2026-09-03Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
  4. 2026-08-26Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6559.).A
  5. 2026-08-25From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (August 25).A
  6. 2026-08-24Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 6370.)A
  7. 2026-08-20Re-referred to Com. on JUD. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.A
  8. 2026-08-19In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.A
  9. 2026-08-19Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0.).S
  10. 2026-08-11Read second time. Ordered to third reading.S
  11. 2026-08-10Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.S
  12. 2026-08-04Read second time. Ordered to third reading.S
  13. 2026-08-03From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.S
  14. 2026-07-02Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.S
  15. 2026-07-01From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 30).S
  16. 2026-06-22From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.S
  17. 2026-06-15Re-referred to Com. on JUD.S
  18. 2026-06-15Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10 (c).S
  19. 2026-06-15Read second time. Ordered to third reading.S
  20. 2026-06-11Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.S
  21. 2026-06-11Ordered to second reading.S
  22. 2026-06-11From inactive file.S
  23. 2025-09-08Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Menjivar.S
  24. 2025-08-29Read second time. Ordered to third reading.S
  25. 2025-08-29From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).S
  26. 2025-07-14In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.S
  27. 2025-07-03From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.S
  28. 2025-06-11Referred to Com. on HEALTH.S
  29. 2025-06-03In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.S
  30. 2025-06-02Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 66. Noes 8. Page 1885.)A
  31. 2025-05-27Read second time. Ordered to third reading.A
  32. 2025-05-23From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 1.) (May 23).A
  33. 2025-05-14In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.A
  34. 2025-04-28Re-referred to Com. on APPR.A
  35. 2025-04-24Read second time and amended.A
  36. 2025-04-23From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 1.) (April 22).A
  37. 2025-03-27Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.A
  38. 2025-03-26From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.A
  39. 2025-03-13Referred to Com. on HEALTH.A
  40. 2025-02-24Read first time.A
  41. 2025-02-22From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.A
  42. 2025-02-21Introduced. To print.A

H = House · S = Senate · A = Assembly