AJC Politics
AJC Politics

Georgia lawmakers approve raising marriage age to 17

March 25, 2019 - Atlanta - Speaker Pro-Tempore Jan Jones and Speaker David Ralston confer during a long day on March 25, 2019. Bob Andres / bandres@ajc.com

Credit: Bob Andres

Credit: Bob Andres

March 25, 2019 - Atlanta - Speaker Pro-Tempore Jan Jones and Speaker David Ralston confer during a long day on March 25, 2019. Bob Andres / bandres@ajc.com
By Mark Niesse
April 2, 2019

The Georgia House passed a bill Tuesday preventing couples from marrying until they're at least 17 years old, sending the proposal to Gov. Brian Kemp.

The House voted 155-14 to give final approval to House Bill 228, which raises the marriage age from 16 to 17.

Live: Use AJC tracker to follow Georgia bills

ExplorePhotos: Sine Die at the Georgia legislature

If signed into law, Georgia would join about a dozen other states that require children to be at least 17 years old before they can marry, even with parental consent.

The bill also prevents 17-year-olds from marrying partners more than four years older than them, and a judge would have to free them from parental control.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

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