Bill Banning Child Marriage in Oklahoma Becomes Law
SB 504 removes parental and court exceptions, making 18 the minimum marriage age in Oklahoma without the governor’s signature.
- On Wednesday, Senate Bill 504 became law in Oklahoma without Governor Kevin Stitt's signature, banning marriage for anyone under 18 with no exceptions and taking effect November 1, 2026.
- Oklahoma ranked fifth nationally for child marriage at 0.229 percent, and nearly 300,000 children were married across the U.S. between 2000 and 2018, with 86 percent being girls wed to older men.
- After unanimous Senate approval in February, the bill narrowly survived the House with a 51-36 vote; all 36 opposing votes came from Republican members despite two Republicans co-authoring the measure.
- Joe Dorman, CEO of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, praised the law for ending "a lesser known avenue of child trafficking" involving parents selling children into marriage for dowries or drug money.
- Republican opponents including Representative Clay Staires argued the law represents "government overreach" into parental rights, while 33 U.S. states still permit child marriage in some form.
8 Articles
8 Articles
Oklahoma Child Marriage Ban Passes Into Law Despite Dozens Of Republican Lawmakers Voting No On The Measure
Oklahoma has become the 17th US state to ban child marriage after a bill clearing the legal path for minors to wed survived fierce Republican opposition and a razor-thin House vote. Senate Bill 504, which sets the minimum age for marriage in Oklahoma at 18 with no exceptions, became law on 13 May 2026 without Governor Kevin Stitt's signature. The measure passed the Senate unanimously but scraped through the House by a single vote, 51-36, with al…
Oklahoma ban on child marriage becomes law • Oklahoma Voice
The Oklahoma State Capitol building is pictured. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice)OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma is now the 17th state in the United States to ban child marriage. Senate Bill 504 requires anyone getting married in Oklahoma to be at least 18 years old, with no exceptions. The measure became law Wednesday without Gov. Kevin Stitt’s signature and goes into effect Nov. 1. State law currently allows minors to get married with t…
Fox 25 Oklahoma City
Bill banning child marriage in Oklahoma becomes law
A measure that changes who is allowed to get married in Oklahoma by banning marriage for anyone under 18 has become law without the governor's signature.Senate
Dozens of Oklahoma Republicans Vote Against Banning Child Marriage
Dozens of Republican lawmakers in Oklahoma voted against legislation banning child marriage this week, nearly derailing a bill that ultimately made the state the 17th in the nation to prohibit marriage under the age of 18 without exceptions. Senate Bill 504 became law Tuesday without the signature of Gov. Kevin Stitt after narrowly passing the Oklahoma House in a 51-36 vote. All 36 votes opposing the bill came from Republican lawmakers. The legi…
Bill to protect minors gaining ground
A bill that would end child marriage in Oklahoma is now sitting on Governor Kevin Stitt’s desk, sparking emotional debate among lawmakers, advocacy groups and families across the state overwhereOklahomashould draw the line between parental rights and the protection of minors. Senate Bill 504 would make 18 the absolute minimum age to marry in Oklahoma, removing longstanding exceptions that currently allow 16 and 17-yearolds to marry with parental…
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