Florida passes ban on marriages for those under 17

The Florida legislature on Friday passed a bill banning marriages for anyone under 17 years old.

The bill was passed in the House on a 109-1 vote, The Associated Press reported.

The Senate had previously passed a bill that prohibited anyone under the age of 18 from getting married. 

Under the compromise between the House and the Senate, people marrying a person who is 17 years old would not be permitted to be more than 19 years old. The bill also requires that minors get consent from parents to be married.

The bill will go to Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s (R) office, where he is expected to sign it, according to the AP.

Under current state law, 16- and 17-year-olds are permitted to get married if both of their parents give consent. And a judge can approve a marriage at any age if it involves a pregnancy, according to the AP.

State lawmakers pushing for the change said they were inspired by Sherry Johnson, who at age 11 was forced to marry a man who raped her.

“My heart is happy,” Johnson said, after the vote in the House. “My goal was to protect our children and I feel like my mission has been accomplished. This is not about me. I survived.”