State Senate leadership in Columbus is postponing a vote on S.B. 341, a bill that would ban all marriages involving minors. The legislation, introduced by Sens. Bill Blessing (R‑Colerain Township) and Bill DeMora (D‑Columbus) in February, would limit marriage to adults only, ending a practice that has allowed 17‑year‑olds to wed adults with court approval.
According to News5Cleveland, the bill cleared its committee unanimously but Senate President Rob McColley (R‑Napoleon) has not scheduled it for a full‑floor vote. When reporters asked McColley for comment, he declined to elaborate, saying he must first gauge caucus support.
Advocates point to state data showing more than 5,000 minors have been married since 2000, with 50 seventeen‑year‑olds married between 2020 and 2024, according to the Ohio Department of Health and the nonprofit Unchained At Last. Former child bride Stephanie Lowry, who was forced to marry at 16 after becoming pregnant, testified that she remained legally dependent on her husband until she turned 18, leaving her homeless with a nine‑month‑old baby.
“The state is actively legitimizing abuse,” Lowry said, urging lawmakers to act. Sen. DeMora called the delay “another black mark on the state of Ohio” and pledged to push the issue within the Republican caucus. Rep. Bill Blessing argued that a simple floor vote would let legislators vote according to conscience.
Some Republican lawmakers have expressed reservations, citing cultural or religious considerations for teen pregnancies. House Speaker Matt Huffman (R‑Lima) said there should be a debate on whether 17‑year‑olds should be allowed to marry adults, noting that the practice dates back to a time before women had economic independence.
Despite bipartisan support from the bill’s sponsors, the leadership’s hesitation could stall the measure indefinitely. If the Senate does not bring the bill to a vote this year, supporters say they will reintroduce it in the January session.
What’s next: Advocates plan to continue pressuring Senate leadership throughout the remainder of the session, while preparing to refile S.B. 341 in January if a floor vote does not occur before the end of the year.
Sources: news5cleveland.com
