Legislature Outlaws Marriage Under Age 15
After a pregnant 14-year-old from Nebraska drove to Kansas last year to marry her 22-year-old boyfriend, now serving time for having sex with the minor, lawmakers decided it was time for a minimum marriage age.
The Kansas House voted 119-0 to approve a bill that would prohibit anyone younger than 15 from marrying in the state unless a district court judge said it was in the child’s best interests. The state Senate had approved the measure on a 36-4 vote.
Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius requested the legislation.
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