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Read. Follow. Verify.Utah Criminalizes Unlawful Underage Marriage and Establishes 15-Year Prosecution Statute of Limitations
Last action · March 26, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Melissa Ballard and 1 other
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What This Bill Does
Utah enacts HB 103 to establish new third-degree felony offenses for unlawful minor marriages, illegal out-of-state transport, parental consent violations, and fraudulent impersonations, while setting a 15-year starting when the minor turns 18.
The measure changes criminal liability and creates specific felony charges for adults involved in marrying individuals under 18 outside strict statutory exceptions, extending the legal window for prosecution until victims reach age 33.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Minors
Minors face stricter out-of-state marriage validation rules and increased legal protections regarding illegal marriages.
Parents and legal guardians
Parents or legal guardians who knowingly consent or allow an illegal marriage face third-degree felony charges.
Officiants and individuals solemnizing marriages
Individuals who solemnize a marriage involving a minor without proper legal authorization are subject to third-degree felony prosecution.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the penalty for unlawfully marrying a minor under this bill?
How long does law enforcement have to prosecute an underage marriage offense?
Are marriages involving minors performed outside of Utah recognized in the state?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
43 actions- Mar 26, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolledGovernor Signed
- Mar 16, 2026HouseHouse/ to Governor
- Mar 16, 2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- Mar 11, 2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11, 2026Clerk of the HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingDraft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 37 earlier actions
- Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from House for Enrolling
- Mar 3, 2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
- Mar 3, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Mar 3, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Mar 3, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
- Mar 3, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 3rd reading
- Mar 3, 2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
- Mar 2, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 2nd reading
- Mar 2, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
- Feb 25, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 25, 2026SenateSenate/ committee report favorable
- Feb 24, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 20, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate/ to standing committee
- Feb 3, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Feb 3, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Feb 3, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Feb 3, 2026HouseFloorHouse/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 3, 2026HouseHouse/ substituted
- Feb 3, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Jan 28, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0103S01
- Jan 28, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0103S01
- Jan 26, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0103S01
- Jan 26, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0103S01
- Jan 26, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Jan 26, 2026HouseHouse/ committee report favorable
- Jan 23, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Jan 22, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Jan 20, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 14, 2026HouseHouse/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- Jan 14, 2026HouseHouse/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Jan 8, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0103
- Jan 8, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0103
- Dec 29, 2025Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Dec 29, 2025Legislative Research and General CounselBill Numbered but not Distributed
- Sep 15, 2025Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0103
- Sep 2, 2025Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0103
- Sep 2, 2025Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0103
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Consolidation of Underage Marriage Offenses into Criminal Code
The legislation moves existing penalties and creates new specific offenses relating to unlawful minor marriages into the criminal code as third-degree felonies with an extended 15-year prosecution window.
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz50Current news / social attention level
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