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.

Follow Mark Niesse on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

(Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Ex-lawmaker, former Cobb school board member head to Georgia Senate runoff

Two Democrats are top voter getters, headed to runoff in Georgia Senate special election for metro Atlanta seat.

Georgia lawmakers vote to release Epstein files

The tally marked a dramatic reversal for GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill and a stinging rebuke for Trump, who had furiously tried to block the move.

Feud between Raffensperger and the State Election Board heats up

Relations between the State Election Board and the secretary of state's office have frayed after law changes and infighting on the board.

The Latest

(Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Ex-lawmaker, former Cobb school board member head to Georgia Senate runoff

Georgia lawmakers vote to release Epstein files

LISTEN

The federal government shutdown ends, but new rifts start in Georgia

Featured

Rose Scott signals as Closer Look goes on air in the WABE studio. An Atlanta resident left WABE a $3 million donation, a boost after WABE lost $1.9 million in annual funding from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting. (Ben Gray / AJC file)

Credit: Ben Gray

Donor leaves WABE $3 million, largest individual gift in station’s history

An Atlanta resident has bequeathed WABE a $3 million donation, the largest one-time individual donation in the nonprofit media operation’s 76-year history.

Usher sues business partners over failed Buckhead restaurant plan

Atlanta singer Usher wants his money back after loaning $1.7 million to music producer Bryan-Michael Cox and others to buy a Buckhead restaurant property for $6.3 million.

Braves’ original ‘Freeze’ is retired. But you probably still can’t catch him.

As the Atlanta Braves prepare to find their next sprinting mascot, Nigel Talton is enjoying his new career coaching high school athletes at McEachern High.