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119-s-5060119th Congress

Child Marriage Prevention Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would aim to _end child marriage under 18_ in the United States by creating federal studies, model laws, state incentives, and immigration safeguards. It focuses on survivor remedies, state-level policy change, and stronger rules for visa petitions and consular processing.

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  • Survivors and families: Creates a National Commission to study child marriage and issue recommendations. It would let minors petition to void marriages and bars an adult spouse from voiding a marriage with a partner under the age of majority.
  • Immigrant petitioners and beneficiaries: Would require spousal and fiancé(e) petitioners and beneficiaries to be adults in most cases, with a narrow humanitarian exception allowing a noncitizen spouse as young as age 16 in limited cases. Fiancé(e) visas would require entry within 90 days, and applications with under-18 marriages would trigger private interviews and updated, multilingual informational materials.
  • States and support programs: Would fund State task forces and create financial incentives for States that bar under-18 marriage. It authorizes $375,000 per year for task forces and $5.0 million per year for the incentive program for fiscal years 2027–2032.

*Would authorize specific appropriations including $1.5 million for the National Commission in each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028, plus the task force and incentive funding listed above.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New immigration rules on child marriage

If enacted, the bill would tighten immigration rules for marriages and engagements involving people under 18. U.S. petitioners and K (fiancé/fiancée) beneficiaries generally would need to be at least 18, and fiancé(e) beneficiaries must enter the U.S. to marry within 90 days. A 16- or 17-year-old could qualify only in a narrow humanitarian exception and only if the State would have allowed the marriage at filing. Proxy marriages would count for immigration only if the parties met in person in the prior two years. USCIS would require separate private interviews whenever at least one party was under 18 at marriage or engagement, and USCIS and State Department materials and Form I-130 and I-129F instructions would be updated and translated into petitioners' and applicants' primary languages.

Federal studies on child marriage

If enacted, the Comptroller General would deliver two sets of federal reports. One report would be due within 3 years and would review federal and State laws, five-year State incidence before enactment, recent research on harms, and service gaps. Another set would start within 1 year and then be due every 2 years through December 31, 2035, showing how often noncitizen spouses under 18 were admitted, listing ages and sex at marriage and filings, and describing evidentiary bases and adjudicator feedback.

State tools to end child marriage

If enacted, the bill would push States to end child marriage with several tools. The Attorney General would prepare a model State law (within 180 days after a federal commission report) that sets 18 as the minimum marriage age, lets people married as minors petition to void the marriage, and stops adult spouses from voiding those marriages. The law would fund State task forces in States that permit under-18 marriages and authorize $375,000 per eligible State per year for 2027–2032 for data and policy work. It would also let States get a limited formula grant increase (up to 10% of a recent average award) for two-year periods, split 25% to STOP Violence Against Women grants and 75% to Sexual Assault Services, with $5 million authorized per year for 2027–2032. Federal property could not be used for marriages unless both people are at least 18.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

IL • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 7/21/2026

  • Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 7/21/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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