LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A Kentucky bill to ban underage marriage is headed to the House floor.
Senate Bill 156 aims to raise the legal marriage age in Kentucky to 18, eliminating all exceptions and closing a loophole that has allowed some minors to get married with parental consent and court approval.
That loophole stems from a 2018 law that restricted child marriage but still allowed 17-year-olds to marry under certain conditions — a system supporters said is inconsistently enforced.
Donna Simmons, a survivor of child marriage, testified before a House committee in support of the bill.
Her appearance followed her previous testimony to lawmakers in February, when Simmons shared she was groomed at 14 by a 29-year-old staff member at a behavioral health facility where she was receiving treatment — she married him two years later.
"I have two choices," Simmons said. "I can remain silent and hide in shame, or I can stand before you and refuse to let this happen to another child."
The bill unanimously passed in the Senate and now awaits a House vote.
If approved, the measure would still allow emancipated minors to marry, since they are generally treated as adults under Kentucky law.
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