California has officially joined 17 other U.S. states in banning child marriage. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1267 into law on Wednesday, effectively ending the state's previous practice of allowing minors to marry if they obtained parental consent and a court order.

Under the new legislation, no individual under the age of 18 may be issued a marriage license or enter into a domestic partnership. The law is notable for having no exceptions, meaning the prohibition applies regardless of the circumstances that previously allowed for judicial discretion. Proponents of the bill, including the Governor, have characterized the move as a necessary step to enhance the safety of minors and align California with a growing national trend toward eliminating age-based loopholes in marriage laws.

While the legislation passed with the goal of protecting minors from potentially coercive or harmful unions, the shift represents a significant change in state policy. Previously, the legal system acted as a gatekeeper for underage marriages, but the new law removes that authority entirely, establishing a firm age floor of 18 for all marital and domestic partnership contracts within the state.