Courtney Stodden was 16 years old when she married a 51-year-old actor in a Las Vegas chapel. Her parents signed the consent forms. A judge approved the union. It was all perfectly legal under California law at the time. More than a decade later, Stodden is using that experience to fight for a bill that would ensure no other child can do the same.
California Assembly Bill 1267 would set the minimum age of marriage at 18 with no exceptions, closing the legal loopholes that currently allow minors to wed with parental consent and judicial approval. The Courtney Stodden child marriage advocacy story has become one of the most visible faces of a decade-long legislative effort that is now closer to becoming law than ever before.
Stodden has spent the past several years transforming her public platform into an advocacy campaign. She has worked directly with Unchained at Last, a survivor-led nonprofit that has been lobbying California lawmakers to eliminate child marriage for nearly a decade.
“I’ve been fighting for so long and really, really hard with amazing survivors who have become my survivor sisters,” Stodden told Us Weekly in September 2026. “We’ve been going to the Sacramento Capitol, and for the first time in nine years this is going to reach Governor Newsom’s desk and he’s going to sign it. And no more girls will ever have to go through what me and all of those other survivors went through.”
Her advocacy is not limited to legislative work. Stodden has also publicly called out men who she says were inappropriate with her when she was a minor, including a 2012 comedy sketch involving Seinfeld actor Jason Alexander. In that sketch, filmed when Stodden was 17, Alexander rubbed a mobile phone on her chest while making a joke about her intelligence.
Alexander issued a public apology in July 2026, telling The Hollywood Reporter: “Looking back at the comedy sketch in which Ms. Stodden and I participated in 2012, I completely agree that it was inappropriate and I truly regret it. But more importantly, I am deeply sorry for any harm or distress it has caused Ms. Stodden. I offer her my sincerest apologies.”
Stodden welcomed the apology but emphasized that accountability must translate into action. “Jason Alexander, you are a rock star. You took accountability,” she told Us Weekly. “We need to see more of that.”
Courtney Stodden was 16 years old when she married Doug Hutchison, then 51, in May 2011. The marriage took place in Las Vegas and was legal because Stodden’s parents provided written consent, as required by California law at the time.
The relationship drew immediate and intense media attention. Stodden was a minor; Hutchison was a working actor more than three times her age. The couple appeared on reality television and in tabloid coverage that often treated the age gap as a curiosity rather than a legal or ethical concern.
The marriage ended in divorce, with the couple separating in 2017 and finalizing their divorce in 2020. In the years since, Stodden has spoken publicly about how her perspective on the relationship changed as she grew older. In an Instagram post on the day her divorce was finalized, she wrote that she had been “scared to even speak up about feeling groomed or being verbally abused during the almost 10 year marriage because I was a child and he was 50 when we married.”
Stodden has been careful in her public statements to frame her experience as part of a broader pattern rather than a singular personal tragedy. “This is what predators don’t think about: their victims grow up,” she said. “Old soul, so — you know — mature for your age… Those things are words strung together to excuse the abuse of the adults. That’s it.”
Assembly Bill 1267 is a bipartisan piece of legislation that would make California the 18th state in the nation to completely ban child marriage.
The bill was authored by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz), with chief co-authors including Assemblymembers Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach), Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine), and state Sen. Caroline Menjivar (D-Panorama City).
As of late August 2026, AB 1267 has passed both chambers of the California Legislature. The state Senate approved the measure unanimously, and the Assembly passed it with overwhelming support. The bill now awaits Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature. If signed, it would take effect on January 1, 2027.
It is important to note that the bill has not yet been signed into law. Until Newsom acts, California remains one of only three states—along with Mississippi and New Mexico—that have no statutory minimum age for marriage.
Under current California law, a person under 18 can marry if they obtain a court order granting permission and secure the written consent of at least one parent or guardian. There is no minimum age below which marriage is prohibited, meaning that in theory, even a very young child could be legally married with judicial and parental approval.
AB 1267 would eliminate these exceptions entirely. It would repeal the provisions of the California Family Code and Health and Safety Code that authorize marriage licenses for anyone under 18. The new law would establish 18 as the absolute minimum age of marriage, with no pathway for minors to wed.
The practical impact is straightforward: no judge, no parent, and no combination of the two could authorize a marriage involving a minor in California. The bill also addresses domestic partnerships, ensuring that the same age minimum applies.
Supporters argue that the current system places an impossible burden on children. As Fraidy Reiss, founder of Unchained at Last, told the Los Angeles Times: “All we’re doing with any judicial review process… is putting the onus on a terrified child.”
California’s lack of a minimum marriage age has been a subject of legislative debate for nearly a decade. The state’s current system allows minors to marry with what advocates describe as insufficient safeguards.
The process requires a judge to interview the minor and a parent or guardian before approving a marriage license, ostensibly to check for coercion. But advocates say this process is easily manipulated. Christina Sutton, another former child bride, testified before a Senate Judiciary Committee that when a Napa judge asked whether her marriage at 17 was truly her choice, she “repeated what her parents had coached her to say.”
Minors who marry also face legal restrictions that make it difficult to leave an abusive relationship. They cannot file for divorce, retain an attorney, or stay at a domestic violence shelter without parental or guardian approval.
The contradiction in California law is stark: the age of sexual consent is 18 without exception, unless the individual is legally married to the minor. As Assemblymember Pellerin has pointed out, this creates a legal shield for adults who would otherwise be committing statutory rape.
Opposition to the bill has come primarily from the ACLU of California, which filed an opposition letter in June 2026. The organization argued that the bill could have the unintended consequence of removing a minor’s autonomy over their own body. “Just as minors have the right to decide to have an abortion or to carry a pregnancy to term (or to seek a restraining order) on their own, they should maintain the right to marry, with robust protections in place to prevent coercion and abuse,” the ACLU wrote.
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California previously opposed similar legislation but did not oppose AB 1267 this year.
Stodden’s advocacy has been focused and specific: she wants California to eliminate all exceptions that allow minors to marry. She has not framed her position as part of a broader political agenda. Her argument is rooted in her own experience and in the experiences of other survivors she has worked alongside.
“There have been years of abuse – child trafficking in California – and a lot of people say, ‘This isn’t true. It happens in another country. It’s not here,'” she told Us Weekly. “No, it’s here. But it stops now.”
Stodden has also emphasized the importance of accountability from individuals who contributed to a culture that normalized her marriage as a teenager. While she welcomed Jason Alexander’s public apology, she noted that she has not received a private apology from him and said that “meaningful action would be even more powerful.”
She has invited Alexander to support AB 1267, saying “that’s how we turn accountability into lasting change.”
Stodden’s story has become part of a broader cultural conversation about how society treats minors, particularly in the entertainment industry. Her marriage at 16 was not hidden. It was celebrated on magazine covers, discussed on daytime television, and treated as entertainment.
The public reckoning around her experience reflects a growing awareness of the power imbalances that can exist between adults and minors, and of the ways institutions—legal, media, and cultural—can fail to protect children. Stodden has been careful to direct her criticism toward systems and individuals who she says failed her, rather than toward broad cultural targets.
She has also acknowledged the complexity of her own feelings about the past. “I never really wanted this, to be honest with you,” she told Us Weekly. “I wanted more out of my life, but I think the craziest thing is that I’m figuring out [that] I’m waking up to a bigger purpose – turning pain into purpose.”
The renewed attention on Stodden’s advocacy comes at a pivotal moment for AB 1267. The bill has cleared both legislative chambers and is awaiting the governor’s signature. This is the furthest any child marriage ban has progressed in California in nearly a decade of advocacy.
Stodden’s public comments in September 2026 coincided with the bill’s arrival on Newsom’s desk. She has been explicit about the significance of this moment: “For the first time in nine years this is going to reach Governor Newsom’s desk.”
The attention is also connected to the broader #MeToo-era conversation about accountability. Stodden’s public statements about Alexander and others have drawn media coverage that amplifies her legislative message. She has used that coverage strategically, consistently redirecting attention back to AB 1267.
Child marriage remains legal in some form in most U.S. states. Marriage laws are primarily handled at the state level, and rules vary significantly.
As of 2026, child marriage is legal in 34 states under certain circumstances. Three states—California, Mississippi, and New Mexico—have no minimum age for marriage at all. Between 2000 and 2018, nearly 300,000 minors were legally married in the United States, the vast majority of them girls.
The movement to ban child marriage has gained momentum in recent years. Unchained at Last reports that it has helped 17 states, along with Washington, D.C., and two U.S. territories, adopt bans on marriage under 18. If AB 1267 is signed, California would become the 18th state to enact such a ban.
The United Nations classifies all marriages involving someone under 18 as forced marriage because children cannot provide full, free, and informed consent.
The case for banning child marriage rests on evidence about its long-term effects. A 2020 study by the International Center for Research on Women found that early marriage has “universally detrimental effects” on educational attainment, earnings, physical and reproductive health, mental health, experiences of violence, and likelihood of divorce, particularly for girls.
Advocates also point to the legal vulnerabilities that married minors face. They cannot easily leave an abusive marriage because they lack the legal capacity to file for divorce or access services independently.
The power imbalance between a minor and an adult spouse is central to the concern. A child who is legally married to an adult may be unable to recognize or report abuse, and may lack the resources to escape it. As Reiss of Unchained at Last put it: the law allowing underage unions “destroys almost any aspect of a girl’s life and it doesn’t deliver any benefit. The only benefit it brings is to creepy guys who want to prey on teenage girls.”
The ACLU of California is the primary organization opposing AB 1267. Its argument is not that child marriage is acceptable, but that a complete ban could have unintended consequences.
In its opposition letter, the ACLU wrote: “Just as minors have the right to decide to have an abortion or to carry a pregnancy to term (or to seek a restraining order) on their own, they should maintain the right to marry, with robust protections in place to prevent coercion and abuse.”
The organization has also argued that lawmakers should wait for the state to complete its data collection on child marriage before enacting a ban. California counties reported 83 marriages involving minors to the state Department of Public Health between 2019 and 2025, but records obtained directly from counties contained dozens of discrepancies, suggesting the data is incomplete.
Eight Republican Assembly members voted against the bill, though their specific objections have not been widely detailed in public reporting.
Stodden’s role in the AB 1267 campaign illustrates how people with lived experience can influence public policy. Her testimony—both in formal settings and in media interviews—has helped draw attention to a legal gap that many Californians did not know existed.
Survivor advocacy can be powerful because it puts a human face on abstract legal questions. It can also be complicated. Survivors are not obligated to disclose traumatic details, and their experiences are not representative of everyone who has been affected by child marriage.
Stodden has been careful to frame her advocacy as part of a collective effort. She consistently credits other survivors and organizations like Unchained at Last. “I’ve been fighting for so long and really, really hard with amazing survivors who have become my survivor sisters,” she said.
She has also acknowledged the emotional weight of the work. “I have to get back, and I have to do it. No matter if I’m tired, I got to spread the word because it’s really important.”
The bill is now on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. He has until August 31, 2026, to sign or veto it, according to legislative deadlines. If signed, the new minimum marriage age would take effect on January 1, 2027.
Newsom has not publicly indicated whether he will sign the bill. The legislation passed both chambers with bipartisan support and minimal opposition, which typically signals a smooth path to signature.
If the bill becomes law, California would join 17 other states that have completely banned marriage under 18. If Newsom vetoes it or takes no action, the bill would fail, and California would remain one of three states without a minimum marriage age.
Stodden’s advocacy has brought significant visibility to the fight against child marriage in California. Her personal story, her public platform, and her willingness to speak about her experience have helped keep the issue in the news.
But the policy debate should be evaluated on its own merits. The question of whether California should ban child marriage is a legal and ethical question that does not depend on celebrity involvement. The evidence about the harms of child marriage, the legal vulnerabilities it creates, and the failure of existing safeguards is what matters most.
Stodden’s contribution has been to help make that evidence visible to a broader audience. Her voice has been part of a chorus of survivors, advocates, and lawmakers who have worked for nearly a decade to change the law. If AB 1267 is signed, that work will have achieved its goal—not because of any single person, but because of a sustained collective effort.
Marriage laws are set primarily by states, not the federal government. This means the rules vary significantly depending on where you live.
Some states have set the minimum age at 18 with no exceptions. Others allow minors to marry with parental consent, judicial approval, or both. A few, like California, have no minimum age at all, relying entirely on a consent-and-approval process.
The exceptions are what advocates want to eliminate. They argue that no amount of parental consent or judicial review can substitute for the legal capacity that adults have to enter into and exit a marriage.
The path to changing these laws is through state legislatures. A bill must pass both chambers and be signed by the governor (or enacted over a veto) to become law. California’s process is no different. AB 1267 has cleared the legislature and is awaiting the governor’s signature.
What is Courtney Stodden doing to end child marriage?
Stodden has been working with Unchained at Last and other advocates to support California Assembly Bill 1267, which would ban marriage for anyone under 18 with no exceptions. She has spoken publicly about her own experience as a child bride and has called for accountability from individuals who contributed to a culture that normalized her marriage.
What is California AB 1267?
AB 1267 is a bipartisan bill that would set California’s minimum marriage age at 18 with no exceptions. It would eliminate current provisions that allow minors to marry with parental consent and judicial approval. The bill has passed both chambers of the legislature and awaits Governor Newsom’s signature.
Is child marriage legal in California?
Yes, under current law. California is one of three states with no minimum age for marriage. Minors can marry if they obtain a court order and written consent from a parent or guardian. AB 1267 would change this if signed into law.
How old was Courtney Stodden when she got married?
Stodden was 16 years old when she married Doug Hutchison, who was 51, in May 2011. The marriage was legal because her parents provided consent.
What would AB 1267 change?
The bill would eliminate all exceptions that currently allow minors to marry in California. It would establish 18 as the absolute minimum age for marriage and domestic partnerships, with no pathway for anyone under 18 to obtain a marriage license.
Has AB 1267 become law?
Not yet. The bill has passed both the California Senate and Assembly and is awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature. If signed, it would take effect on January 1, 2027.
Why is Courtney Stodden advocating for child-marriage reform?
Stodden has said her perspective on her own marriage changed as she grew older. She has described feeling groomed and has said she wants to prevent other children from experiencing what she went through. She has framed her advocacy as “turning pain into purpose.”
What happens next for California’s child-marriage legislation?
Governor Newsom must sign or veto AB 1267 by August 31, 2026. If he signs it, the law will take effect on January 1, 2027. If he does not, the bill will fail, and California will remain one of three states without a minimum marriage age.