The bill aims to eliminate child marriage in Washington State by amending existing laws to establish a minimum marriage age of 18 years. Specifically, it amends RCW 26.04.010 to declare that any marriage where either party is under 18 years old is void, removing previous provisions that allowed for exceptions with court waivers. Additionally, the bill modifies the requirements for obtaining a marriage license, ensuring that both applicants must be at least 18 years old and eliminating the previous allowance for minors to marry with parental consent.

Further amendments include clarifying the responsibilities of county auditors in issuing marriage licenses and reinforcing penalties for false statements in marriage affidavits. The bill also introduces a new section stating that these changes apply to any marriage entered into on or after the effective date of the legislation. Overall, the bill seeks to protect minors from entering into marriage and to ensure that all individuals have reached the legal age of consent before marrying.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 26.04.010, 26.04.130, 26.04.210