Laramie lawmaker reintroduces anti-child marriage bill

CHEYENNE — After a bill banning child marriages narrowly failed in the Legislature last year, a Laramie representative has introduced a similar bill that would effectively prevent any child in Wyoming under the age of 18 from getting married.

Wyoming law sets the legal age for marriage at 16, though a child younger than that can still get married if given approval by a parent or guardian and approved by a judge.

House Bill 67, introduced by Rep. Charles Pelkey, D-Laramie, would move that age limit to 18 in nearly every scenario. While last year’s bill provided no exceptions, this legislation w...