Oklahoma Child Marriage Ban Passes Into Law Despite Dozens Of Republican Lawmakers Voting No On The Measure

Under the SAVE America Act, women who change their names after marriage may need to show a birth certificate, driver’s licence, and marriage certificate (Credit: Pexels)

Oklahoma has become the 17th US state to ban child marriage after a bill clearing the legal path for minors to wed survived fierce Republican opposition and a razor-thin House vote.

Senate Bill 504, which sets the minimum age for marriage in Oklahoma at 18 with no exceptions, became law on 13 May 2026 without Governor Kevin Stitt's signature. The measure passed the Senate unanimously but scraped through the House by a single vote, 51-36, with all 36 opposing votes cast by Republican members. It takes effect on 1 November 2026 and does not affect marriages that took place before that date.