© 2024 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Apple's latest iOS (17.4) is preventing our livestreams from playing. We suggest you download the free Boise State Public Radio app & stream us there while we work to troubleshoot the issue.

Bill Establishing Minimum Marriage Age In Idaho Advances

Bart
/
Flickr

A bill that establishes a minimum age for marriage in Idaho passed out of a House committee with overwhelming support.

While making her presentation to the committee Thursday, Boise Democrat Melissa Wintrow pointed out a glaring issue with Idaho law.

“Currently, a 40-year-old could marry a 12-year-old,” Wintrow said.

The legislation Wintrow proposes prevents anyone under 16 from getting married. However, with certain approvals, her bill still allows for young love.

“We’re going to have a small compromise here,” Wintrow told lawmakers. “If you are 16 or 17 years of age, you consent to the marriage, your parents or guardian consent and a judge or court also agrees,” then, Wintrow says, you can tie the knot.

The bill passed out of the House Judiciary Committee to receive a full hearing. Every member of the committee but Hammett Republican Christy Zito supported the measure.

“Did I understand right then, that a girl 14 – the law would make it so that those people could not get married even if they chose to?” Zito asked.

“That is exactly what I’m proposing, that we would have a floor at the age of 16,” clarified Wintrow.

Twenty years ago, the state saw over 500 girls get married under the age of 18. Now, that number has declined to 75.

For more local news, follow the KBSX newsroom on Twitter @KBSX915

Copyright 2019 Boise State Public Radio

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.