CONCORD — The House tabled state Rep. Cassie Levesque’s latest attempt to end child marriage Tuesday, but she said it’s a good thing because some legislators allegedly planned to insert “dangerous loopholes” into the bill.
Levesque, D-Barrington, said Tuesday’s tabling will allow House Bill 378 to live to fight another day. The freshman legislator, who was elected in November at age 19, is attempting to combat human trafficking by raising the state’s minimum marriage age to 18, one year after she successfully pushed as a private citizen to raise it to 16.
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Washington
Grade: C
Number of Women and Girls At Risk: 25,000
Status: Existing Legislation Needs Strengthening
Improve by adding: Prosecuting parents/guardian, felony offense