Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateKansasIn Committee
HB 2026: Requiring all persons to be 18 years of age to be eligible to give consent for marriage and eliminating exceptions to such requirement.
Stephanie Sawyer-Clayton
HB 2026 status: In Committee — Died in Committee (updated Apr 10, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
75OUT OF 100
Score:75/100 civic fit
Risk:Low Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 40/100
Constitutionality90%
Bipartisan50%
Public opinion85%
Bill summary
What changes
The bill would prohibit marriage for anyone under the age of 18, eliminating all current legal exceptions.
Who is affected
Minors under 18 in Kansas who seek to enter into a legal marriage contract.
Requirements and enforcement
Applicants for a marriage license must be at least 18 years of age.
Costs and funding
Not stated in the available source.
When it takes effect
Died in committee during the 2025-2026 session.
Potential benefits
Potential for enhanced child protection, prevention of child marriage exploitation, and alignment of marriage laws with the age of majority.
Risks and tradeoffs
Loss of autonomy for older minors, potential loss of legal status for minors relying on marriage for emancipation, and possible increase in informal cohabitation.
What is still unknown
The exact impact on existing marriage statutes and how this would interface with current emancipation processes for minors remain unclear due to the brevity of the summary.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Society
Positive outlook
75%
Benefits
- Protects minors from potentially coercive early marriages
- Aligns legal marriage age with the age of majority
- Reduces risks associated with domestic abuse in minor-adult unions
Risks
- Removes autonomy for emancipated minors seeking marriage
- Limits personal choice for individuals in unique life circumstances
- Could disrupt established or traditional family planning pathways
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Public Health & Safety
Positive outlook
75%
Benefits
- Reduces health complications associated with adolescent pregnancies
- Decreases statistically higher rates of domestic violence in minor marriages
- Protects minor mental health from premature adult marital stress
Risks
- Could potentially increase unintended pregnancies outside of marriage
- Limits legal access to benefits for young couples and children
- Removes an established legal pathway for emancipation from household stress
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
The summary does not clarify the status of existing marriages if this law were to pass, or how it would interact with emancipation statutes.
Analysis scope
Analysis is based on a high-level summary provided by OpenStates.
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeCurrent
- Chamber votesUpcoming
- Final agreementUpcoming
- GovernorUpcoming
- EnactedUpcoming
05
How it affects your district
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06
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