Spearheaded by House Minority Whip Charles Pelkey, D-Laramie, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers are bringing forward a bill to amend the state constitution that, if passed, would require individuals to reach the age of 18 before becoming eligible for marriage. According to the bill text , the legislation would repeal an exception to state law that allows someone aged 16 or 17 to marry with the permission of a judge.

“My intent is that we not allow parents, courts or individuals to get someone to make a life-altering decision before they reach the age of majority,” Pelkey said. “There are extreme examples of underage people marrying someone substantially older. My own daughter did something when she turned 18 that before, even with my permission, she would not have been able to do: She went to Wal-Mart and bought dry ice. You have to be 18 to do something as simple as buy dry ice but, under certain circumstances, you can marry at a ridiculously young age.”