HOUSTON – In Texas, teenagers as young as 16 can legally get married—a reality that many parents and child advocates say is out of step with modern expectations and child welfare standards.
“It’s too young. There’s a lot of life to live,” one Houston mom told KPRC 2 News.
Another added, “They don’t know anything about the world.”
READ: Bill to ban child marriages in Texas advances in the House
Their concerns reflect a broader public sentiment questioning why minors—who can’t vote, buy cigarettes, or legally drink—are allowed to make such a significant, lifelong decision.
Currently, Texas law allows 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with judicial approval. However, state records show marriages involving age gaps of 10 to 30 years, prompting growing calls for reform.
State Representative Jon Rosenthal (D - Dist.135) is behind legislation that would raise the legal marriage age in Texas to 18 with no exceptions. If passed, Texas would become the 16th state to completely ban child marriage, Rosenthal said.
“We’re having this debate on the House floor about minors not being allowed to access adult-themed books in libraries,” Rosenthal said. “But we’re still going to let them marry? They can’t vote or buy cigarettes, but they can make this life-altering decision?”
READ: Texas allows certain children to get married. Lawmakers may close that loophole.
Rosenthal’s bill could also potentially nullify existing marriages involving minors, depending on how it is written into law. A final decision on the legislation is expected in the coming weeks.
Chau Nguyen, a trauma therapist based in Houston, emphasized the risks of allowing minors to marry.
“Child marriages open the doors for exploitation, trafficking, sexual violence, and domestic violence,” Nguyen said. “It’s a dangerous precedent.”
A companion bill in the Texas Senate has also been introduced, though its chances of advancing remain unclear.
For now, the debate continues—one that could determine whether Texas remains among the states allowing child marriage, or joins others in outlawing the practice entirely.
