Massachusetts lawmakers will vote Thursday on a bill that would end child marriage in the state.
Under current law, a child in Massachusetts can be married with the consent of a parent and a judge. A bill before the state Senate would require someone to be at least 18 to wed.
Senator Harriette Chandler, a Democrat from Worcester, is the lead sponsor.
"By putting the age at 18, we are saying that is the age when people can get married, because they're old enough to full represent themselves," she said.
According to Chandler, more than 1,200 minors were married in Massachusetts between the year 2000 and 2016 — some as young as 14.
Chandler said she's hopeful the bill will pass. If it does, it would go to the state House of Representatives. To become law, Governor Charlie Baker would also need to sign off.