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  "description": "The South Dakota Legislature is currently debating a law that would increase the restrictions on teen marriage.",
  "path": "/fact-brief-south-dakota-united-states-child-marriage-legislature/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-24T14:10:08.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.sdnewswatch.org",
  "tags": [
    "South Dakota News Watch Quiz - GigafactGigafact",
    "__this one.__",
    "_South Dakota lawmakers kill bill that would change minimum age of marriage from 16 to 18_",
    "_Child marriage bill moves on with amendment_",
    "_Child marriage in South Dakota_",
    "_Child marriage is still legal in two-thirds of U.S. states. Here's why._",
    "**South Dakota News Watch**",
    "**Gigafact**",
    "**South Dakota News Watch Tipline**",
    "Donate",
    "Share your thoughts on this story",
    "_sdnewswatch.org_"
  ],
  "textContent": "## Yes.\n\nSouth Dakota is one of 34 states that allow some children under the age of 18 to marry.\n\nTeens aged 16 and 17 can get married in the state if they have permission from a parent or legal guardian, which has been the law since 1993, though several previous attempts to change the law have been rejected.\n\nA bill introduced in the 2026 legislative session would raise the age to 18 but allows teens 16 and 17 with an age gap of no more than four years to marry if granted from a court hearing or with parental permission.\n\nSouth Dakota News Watch Quiz - GigafactGigafact\n\nAccording to the website Unchained At Last, 881 children (under the age of 18) were married in South Dakota from 2000-23.\n\nChild marriage was legal in all 50 states until 2018, when Delaware and New Jersey banned it. Since then, 14 more states and Washington, D.C., have joined them.\n\n_This fact brief responds to conversations such as_ __this one.__\n\n### Sources\n\nSioux Falls Argus Leader, _South Dakota lawmakers kill bill that would change minimum age of marriage from 16 to 18_\n\nKELO-TV, _Child marriage bill moves on with amendment_\n\nUnchainedAtLast.com, _Child marriage in South Dakota_\n\n19thNews.org, _Child marriage is still legal in two-thirds of U.S. states. Here's why._\n\n* * *\n\n**South Dakota News Watch** partners with **Gigafact** to publish fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context. Send questions or feedback to **factbrief@sdnewswatch.org**. Submit a question for us to answer on the **South Dakota News Watch Tipline**.\n\n****Support fact briefs.**** Help us fight misinformation by supporting fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.\n\n Donate \n\nShare your thoughts on this story\n\n _**South Dakota News Watch** is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at _ _sdnewswatch.org_ _.**Contact freelance reporter Michael Klinski:**_[_michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org_](mailto: Michael.Klinski@sdnewswatch.org) _._",
  "title": "Fact brief: Can some minors legally marry in South Dakota?",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-24T18:44:43.345Z"
}