Legislative panel shoots down South Dakota bill to raise the age for marriage to 18

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Sixteen- and 17-year-olds call still wed in South Dakota after a legislative committee shot down an effort to raise the age of marriage to 18. KELO-TV reports that the House State Affairs Committee on Monday voted 8-5 to reject the bill. The current law lets 16- and 17-year-olds marry if they have the consent of a parent or guardian. The prime sponsor, Democratic Rep. Kadyn Wittman, told the committee that between 2000 and 2020, 838 minors got married in South Dakota, and 81% were minor girls being wed to adult men. National groups say 10 states ban marriages under age 18 with no exceptions.