New Child Marriage Prevention Act Sets 18-Year Age Minimum for Federal Property and Visas to Protect Minors

The Child Marriage Prevention Act of 2026 is a massive push to close legal loopholes that allow minors to marry in the U.S. It starts by creating a National Commission to Combat Child Marriage within the Department of Health and Human Services. This 10-member team, which must include a survivor of child marriage, is tasked with a two-year deep dive into state laws and the real-world effects on kids. To back this up, the bill authorizes $1.5 million for 2027 and 2028 to fund this research and requires the GAO to track exactly how many marriages involving minors are happening across every state. For anyone who has ever wondered why marriage laws are such a patchwork, this bill aims to finally put the hard data on the table.

The Carrot and the Stick for States

Because marriage laws are mostly handled by states, the federal government is using its wallet to encourage change. Section 7 of the bill offers a financial bonus—up to a 10% increase in federal justice and domestic violence grants—to any state that passes a law strictly banning marriage for anyone under 18. For a state already tight on budget, this is a significant incentive to remove exceptions like parental consent or pregnancy that currently allow younger teens to wed. Additionally, Section 6 sets aside $375,000 annually through 2032 for states to create specialized task forces. These groups would include social workers, doctors, and legal experts who can figure out why child marriage is still happening in their specific communities and how to help those who have already been married as minors.

Closing the Border and Federal Loopholes

The bill also gets very specific about where the federal government has direct control. Section 8 flatly prohibits any marriage from taking place on federal property—like national parks or military bases—unless both people are at least 18. On the immigration front, Section 10 raises the bar for marriage-based visas. Generally, both the U.S. petitioner and the foreign spouse must now be 18. There is a narrow exception for 16 and 17-year-olds, but they have to prove an "urgent humanitarian reason," and the bill explicitly says that things like pregnancy or parental consent don't count. This is a major shift intended to prevent the immigration system from being used to facilitate forced marriages of minors.

Empowerment and Exit Ramps

For those already in these situations, the bill focuses on legal and educational lifelines. Section 9 directs the Department of Justice to write a "model law" for states that would allow anyone married as a minor to have their marriage legally annulled (voided) later on. This is huge because, in many places right now, a minor can’t even file for divorce or a protective order without an adult's help. To make sure people actually know their rights, the bill mandates a multilingual public education campaign. This includes updating the legal pamphlets given to every person applying for a marriage visa and posting clear, accessible info at every U.S. embassy and consulate. It’s a move from "fine print" to active outreach, ensuring that a 17-year-old at a port of entry knows exactly what resources are available if they are being coerced.