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HB 433 · 2025 · House · Children and Family Law Committee

Marriage age exception for military

AI-generated

making 17 the age of consent for marriage if either party is active duty military and removing language regarding age waivers for marriage registration records, since age waivers are no longer issued in New Hampshire.

Lowers the marriage age of consent to 17 when one party is an active-duty member of the military and other conditions are met, and removes obsolete language about marriage age waivers that are no longer issued in New Hampshire.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 15, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill reduces the marriage age of consent in the male and in the female to 17 where either party is on active duty in the military and other criteria are met. This bill also removes language regarding age waivers for marriage registration records, since age waivers are no longer issued in New Hampshire.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“If the other person is 17 and not also a member of the armed forces of the United States while on active duty, they must have written permission to marry from a parent or legal guardian.”
RSA 457:5
“No person below the age of 18 years, except as otherwise provided in RSA 457:5, shall be capable of contracting a valid marriage, and all marriages contracted by such persons shall be null and void.”
RSA 457:4
“Nothing in paragraph II of this section shall waive or change any requirements for obtaining a marriage license under RSA 5-C:42.”
RSA 457:5

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Margaret DryeRPrimeClerk· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Skip RollinsRVice Chair· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
  • Rep. Terry RoyRChair· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. Debra DeSimoneRChair· Children and Family Law

Also: Rep. Harry BeanR, Rep. Cyril AuresR

Public testimony

468 signed in online · 137 wrote testimony

1% support99% oppose0% neutral

AgainstGeneral moral opposition to child marriage

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I am against a under 18 years of age marriages without parental consent...military don't make them grown.”
— Linda Harriott-Gathright, Nashuasupports
“Considering how much the right constantly rails against perceived pedophilia around every corner, it is the most grotesque kind of hypocrisy that you are now seeking to enshrine child marriage into law.…”
— Paul Golin, Brooklyn · Jews for a Secular Democracy, a national, pluralistic religious freedom initiativeopposes
“By adding this exception to the proposed bill, you risk setting a precedent for additional exceptions in the future.…”
— Madison Kranis, Toms Riveropposes
“Lowering marital age is a disservice to our children and a failure on the part of our governmental leaders. The U.S. State Department calls all marriage before age 18, including at age 17, a human rights abuse.…”
— Dana Brooks, Oxon Hillopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 18, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Without Recommendation7–7
    Overall
    50% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseRoll callOught to PassAdopted193–178How they voted
    Overall
    52% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    193–1394% yea
    Democrats
    0–1650% yea
  • May 15, 2025SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 15, 2025SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 28, 2025Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law2:03:33–2:09:045m 31slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law2:10:36–2:16:416m 5slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session; Committee Report: Without Recommendation — roll call
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:34:58–1:40:115m 13slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, roll call 193-178
  • May 6, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary52:27–1:03:5311m 26slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 15, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Children and Family Law HJ 3 P. 9
  2. Jan 28, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/28/2025 11:15 am LOB 206-208
  3. Feb 18, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2025 10:30 am LOB 206-208
  4. Feb 18, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Without Recommendation 02/18/2025 (Vote 7-7; RC)
  5. Mar 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 193-178 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 30
  6. Mar 20, 2025SenIntroduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 9
  7. May 6, 2025SenHearing: 05/06/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 20
  8. May 15, 2025Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/15/2025; SC 21
  9. May 15, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 05/15/2025; SJ 13

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.