Bill to ban child marriages in Texas advances in the House

AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — The Texas House brought the state one step closer to eliminating a legal loophole that permits child marriages.

House Bill 168, by Rep. Jon Rosenthal, a Houston Democrat, tentatively passed 83-51 on Tuesday and will be up for a final vote this week before advancing to the Senate. If passed, the bill would prohibit counties from issuing marriage licenses to minors, even if they are emancipated, and would effectively end any current marriage involving a minor.

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