DeMora, Blessing Urge Immediate Passage of Bill to End Child Marriage

Today, state Senator Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) was joined by survivors of child marriage to urge the prompt passage of Senate Bill 341, bipartisan legislation that would prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from marrying in Ohio.

“Senate Bill 341 should have passed before the legislature went on summer recess,” said DeMora. “Delaying this vital legislation any longer is a slap in the face to survivors of child marriage and to anyone who has been forced into one since this bill was introduced in January. I plan to offer an amendment to every bill that comes to the Senate floor until this legislation passes. This issue is far too prevalent in our state to go unaddressed, and I refuse to let it die before the end of this General Assembly."

Senator DeMora was joined by the bill’s joint sponsor, state Senator Louis W. Blessing, III (R-Colerain Township), state Representative Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), survivors and representatives from advocacy organizations, including Unchained at Last.

S.B. 341 unanimously passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in June and currently awaits a full vote on the Senate floor.

Watch the full press conference.