Advocates Push Ohio Senate to Raise Marriage Age

Senate Bill 341 would require Ohioans to be 18 to marry, and advocates say the bill will die without Senate action this session.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Legislative Policy

Advocates Push Ohio Senate to Raise Marriage Age

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Should Ohio raise its minimum marriage age to 18?

Advocates pressed the Ohio Senate to pass Senate Bill 341, which would set the minimum marriage age at 18, up from the current 17. Advocates said the bill will die and need reintroduction next year if the Senate does not act.

Why it matters

Before 2019, Ohio had no minimum marriage age, and sponsors say the current threshold is not enough to protect children. State Rep. Allison Russo said existing laws put young people in danger.

Senate Bill 341 would raise Ohio's minimum marriage age from 17 to 18, and more than 5,000 children in Ohio have been married as minors since 2000, according to Unchained at Last. The bill was not on the Senate agenda as of Tuesday, and its path before the session ends remains unresolved.

The players

Bill DeMora

Bill DeMora is a Democratic member of the Ohio Senate representing Columbus, and is a primary sponsor of Senate Bill 341.

Louis W. Blessing III

Louis W. Blessing III is a Republican member of the Ohio Senate representing Colerain Township, and is a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 341.

Allison Russo

Allison Russo is a Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives representing Upper Arlington, who said existing laws put young people in danger.

Unchained at Last

Unchained at Last is an advocacy organization working to end child marriage in the United States, and it reported that more than 5,000 Ohio children have been married as minors since 2000.

The details

Sponsors State Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) and State Sen. Louis W. Blessing III (R-Colerain Township) pressed the bill at a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse. DeMora said he will offer an amendment to every bill on the Senate floor next week, which would force a vote if the bill is tabled.

Before 2019: Ohio had no minimum marriage age.
2000 onward: More than 5,000 Ohio minors married, according to Unchained at Last.
November 10, 2026: Advocates held a press conference urging Senate action; the Senate returned that week.
Next week: DeMora plans to offer amendments on the Senate floor.

Legislative Policy

SB 341 extends Ohio's 2019 law, which eliminated any minimum marriage age, by proposing a floor of 18 where the state currently sets 17. The bill's fate depends on whether the Senate acts before the session ends.

If enacted, SB 341 would bar anyone under 18 from marrying in Ohio, changing the rules for families and young couples. If the bill fails this session, it would need to be reintroduced next year before any change takes effect.

The takeaway

Child marriage rules are set by state legislatures, so the outcome of SB 341 depends on whether lawmakers act within the current session. Readers who want to track it can follow the bill's status through the Ohio Senate's legislative records.