DeMora Provides Sponsor Testimony on Child Marriage Ban

This week, state Senators Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) and Louis W. Blessing, III (R-Colerain Township) gave sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 341, their bipartisan legislation to repeal an Ohio law that allows minors to get married. 

“This legislation is probably the most straightforward bill I can imagine,” said DeMora. “All it does is get rid of the loophole that allows children to get married. If you are over 18 and getting married to someone over the age of 18, this bill will have absolutely zero impact on you and your ability to get married. We introduced this bipartisan legislation after meeting with survivors of child marriage who talked about how they were pressured into a decision that put them into marriage before they were legally an adult.” 

Child marriage is currently legal in 34 states, but 16 states, including nearby states such as Pennsylvania and Minnesota, have banned child marriage without any exceptions. 

S.B 341 awaits further hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.