Maryland lawmakers are considering the creation of an emancipation process for 16 and 17 year olds that also aims to curb marriage by minors, the subject of debate in recent legislative sessions. House Bill 1147 creates a process for minors ...

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Maryland may have failed again to pass legislation eliminating so-called "child marriage," but nearby Delaware did last month and New Jersey may soon follow if Gov. Phil Murphy signs it into law.

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New Jersey lawmakers approved a bill banning anyone under 18 from marrying, as an age-raising trend among U.S. states draws objections from some religious leaders.

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Lawmakers will continue to push for raising the minimum age for marriage in Maryland after legislation failed for the third year in a row.

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Both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly have passed legislation eliminating exceptions to state law allowing 15-year-olds to marry, but differences over whether the new minimum age should be 16 or 17 mean the cross-filed bills are likely headed for a conference ...

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The legislative debate over the minimum age for marriage in Maryland continues as cross-filed bills banning marriage for anyone younger than 18 were both amended in committee before moving forward in their respective chambers. The House Judiciary Committee adopted a ...

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Advocacy groups expressed support Thursday for the concept of a bill providing a path to emancipation for 16- and 17-year-olds but called for a more in-depth discussion before moving forward. Del. Vanessa Atterbeary, D-Howard, introduced House Bill 1304 to assuage ...

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Legislation creating a path to emancipation for minors in Maryland has been introduced in the General Assembly, with sponsors hoping it will address some concerns raised about pending legislation to ban marriage for individuals younger than 18. House Bill 1304, ...

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ANNAPOLIS — Advocates returned to the State House on Thursday to renew their push to change a law allowing individuals as young as 15 to be married in Maryland, but civil and women’s rights groups echoed objections from the 2017 ...

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Advocates for eliminating laws that allow children to be married as young as 12 met in Washington D.C. Wednesday to discuss child marriage, an issue that has gained traction in the Maryland General Assembly in recent years. One of the ...

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