OLYMPIA, Wash.- Washington State Senator Jeff Holy (R) offered a lone vote against a bill which would ban child marriage on Feb. 23.
The bill, HB 1455, would eliminate current exceptions in state law which allow people under 18-years-old to get married.
Under current Washington law, a parent can grant written consent for their child to get married at 17-years-old. A court can also grant an exception for someone under 17 to get married if a county superior court approves a “showing of necessity” for such an arrangement.
The language of the house bill mandates that marriage licenses only be granted to people 18 and above.
Holy, who represents Airway Heights, Cheney, Medical Lake and portions of Spokane, did not articulate his reasoning for opposing the bill on the Senate floor during the final vote. He has not offered public comment as to why he is against the policy.
An amendment to the bill introduced by Senator Mike Padden (R) would have amended the bill to allow 17-year-olds to get married if approved by a superior court, but not allow anyone under that age to be granted an exception. The amendment failed to find support.
Now that HB 1455 has passed both chambers with broad support, it heads to the governor’s desk, where it is likely to become law.
