Bill > HB1997

This bill, known as the Child Protection Act of 2024, modifies Oklahoma's marriage laws to significantly restrict marriage for minors. The bill eliminates most previous exceptions that allowed individuals under 18 to marry, now permitting marriage for those under 18 only if a court has previously conferred upon the minor the rights of majority. For individuals under 16, marriage is strictly prohibited except in two narrow circumstances: when the marriage settles a paternity suit or when an unmarried female is pregnant, and only with specific court authorization and parental involvement. The bill also explicitly prevents parents or guardians of children in state custody (such as those under the care of the Department of Human Services or Department of Juvenile Justice) from consenting to their child's marriage. These changes aim to provide additional protections for minors by making it much more difficult for them to enter into marriage before reaching the age of legal adulthood. The law is set to take effect on November 1, 2025, giving state authorities and potential marriage applicants time to understand and prepare for the new restrictions.

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb1997&Session=2500