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Bill

SB 560

RELATING TO MARRIAGE OF MINORS.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lynn DeCoite and 4 co-sponsors

SB 560 modifies Hawaii's minor marriage laws, potentially restricting or eliminating child marriage through age requirements or consent provision changes.

Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
#legalage #marriage
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Bill Summary · SB 560

Legislative bill overview

SB 560 addresses the marriage of minors in Hawaii, though the specific provisions are not detailed in the available information. Based on the bill's title and sponsorship, it likely proposes changes to current age requirements, parental consent rules, or other conditions governing when minors can legally marry in the state.

Why is this important

Marriage age laws directly affect child welfare, educational attainment, and economic independence. Hawaii's current law allows minors to marry with parental and judicial consent, and any changes would impact family law, child protection standards, and potentially align or diverge Hawaii from national trends toward raising minimum marriage ages.

Potential points of contention

  • Age threshold definition: Disagreement over what constitutes an appropriate minimum marriage age for minors (whether prohibiting all minor marriages, setting age floors like 16 or 17, or maintaining status quo)
  • Parental authority vs. child protection: Tension between parental rights to consent to their children's marriages and state interest in protecting minors from potentially exploitative or coercive unions
  • Judicial discretion: Debate over whether judges should retain authority to approve minor marriages in exceptional circumstances or whether such discretion should be eliminated entirely

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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