Bill limiting child marriage introduced for sixth time; advocates voice support at Annapolis Moms meeting

State Del. Vanessa Atterbeary again introduced a bill this session to raise the minimum age for marriage in Maryland — an effort that has failed for five consecutive years. Atterbeary, D-Howard, and state Sen. Sarah Elfreth, D-Annapolis, filed the bill the sixth time requiring teenagers to be at least 17 years old to get legally married. Under state law, 15-year-olds can marry in the case of pregnancy or birth of a child if they have parental consent. And 16- and 17-year-olds only need parental consent.