Bill > SB528

This bill seeks to end child marriage in Hawaii by raising the minimum age to enter into marriage from sixteen to eighteen years old, effectively eliminating all provisions that previously allowed minors under eighteen to marry. The legislation is grounded in findings that child marriage is a human rights violation with significant negative social and economic consequences, particularly for girls. Specifically, the bill removes the family court's authority to approve marriages for minors, eliminates parental consent requirements for minor marriages, and repeals existing statutes that previously allowed minors as young as fifteen to marry. The bill cites alarming national statistics, including over 207,000 children married in the United States between 2000 and 2015, with many marriages involving adult men and minor girls. By aligning with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and following the lead of other states like Delaware and New Jersey, Hawaii aims to protect minors from potential coercion, trafficking, and the developmental challenges associated with early marriage. The legislation makes corresponding amendments to various legal sections to remove references to minor marriage and ensures that emancipation can no longer be achieved through marriage, thereby strengthening protections for children and promoting their welfare.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=528&year=2026