Key panel deadlocks over making exception to ban on child marriage
Feb. 18—A key House committee deadlocked over whether to recommend support or political death for carving out an exception to the ban on child marriage to allow a 17-year-old to wed when one of the partners is serving in the military.
The House Children and Family Law Committee split 7-7 on separate motions to recommend passing or killing the narrow carve-out to the child marriage ban that went into effect Jan. 1.
New Hampshire is now one of 11 states that doesn't allow without exception anyone under 18 to get married.
State Rep. Charles McMahon, R-Windham, joined all the Democrats present on the committee against the bill that sparked passionate debate for and against the measure during a hearing last month.
Chairman Mark Pearson, R-Hampstead, said the bill (HB 433) will go to the full House with "no recommendation," a stalemate common during the previous two years when the House was as closely divided by party as it has been in the past 150 years.
In November, Republicans picked up 20 more seats in the House and Pearson's committee has nine Republicans and seven Democrats on it.
Reps. Kim Rice, R-Hudson, and Amy Malone, D-Rochester, were absent for Tuesday's executive session vote on the bill.
The bill would permit a 17-year-old to be married if one of the pair was in the military and if the minor gets consent from a parent or legal guardian.
"I just feel this would create an opportunity for good solid families," said Rep. Debra DeSimone, R-Atkinson.
Rep. Alicia Gregg, D-Nashua, said the Legislature came together in a bipartisan fashion last year to pass the ban so the state would "not be a beacon for this" (child marriage).
Rep. Heather Raymond, D-Nashua, said now was not the time to reverse course.
"The testimony we had from women who were married off at young ages to such specific painful experiences; I just can't possibly support this," Raymond said.
Rep. Lori Korzen, R-Berlin, said society is hypocritical about sexual intercourse and the sanctity of a couple vowing to share a life together.
"It's okay for a minor to have sex but we are not okay with letting them get married; to me that makes no sense," Korzen said.
Rep. Cassandra Levesque, D-Barrington and now 25, said she's worked on the issue since she was 15 and helped lead the campaign that convinced lawmakers in Massachusetts to ban child marriages there in 2022.
"We are sending young girls who are unprepared into a forced marriage," Levesque said.
klandrigan@unionleader.com
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