A Utah state representative has introduced a new bill designed to prevent people from crossing state lines to conduct illegal, underage marriages. The proposed legislation aims to close legal loopholes that have allegedly been exploited by some religious groups within the state.
Details of the Proposed Legislation
Representative Melissa Garff Ballard's House Bill 103 would make it a crime to unlawfully marry a minor, to travel out of Utah with the intent of marrying a minor, or to transport a minor for the purpose of an illegal marriage. Ballard stated that the bill is a direct response to reports of Utah being used as a hub for various trafficking activities.
"We have report after report of Utah being the crossroads of drugs, human trafficking, sex trafficking," Ballard told Fox 13. She highlighted the manipulative use of social media to coerce minors into marriage as a particular concern.
Opposition and Historical Context
The bill has immediately sparked opposition from certain local religious communities where underage and polygamous marriages have been a persistent issue. The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) is one such group that has faced long-standing investigations and accusations over these practices.
The current president of the FLDS, Warren Jeffs, is a convicted child sex offender. The FBI found he presided over several illegal child marriages in Colorado City, Arizona. His case has cast a long shadow over the debate, with Ballard explicitly stating her bill aims to crack down on crimes similar to his.
Elizabeth Roundy, a former FLDS member, voiced her fears to Fox 13, saying she hasn't seen her children in years and worries her daughter could be lured into a young marriage. "I just don’t want her to get married young or to get in a bad situation," she said.
Current Law and the Bill's Scope
Under existing Utah law, individuals must be at least 16 to marry, and those under 18 require parental consent. The mainstream Mormon Church also publicly discourages relationships under 16 and polygamy. Ballard's bill does not seek to alter these age requirements but instead targets the act of circumventing them by leaving the state.
"This is really to say we do not want you in Utah to violate Utah marriage laws or try to go around them by just taking a minor out of state and then returning," Ballard explained. "We want to help protect them."
The bill is scheduled for consideration when the Utah State Legislature convenes next week. Despite anticipated pushback, Ballard reports receiving early support from some local groups and remains hopeful the legislation will protect vulnerable young people from exploitation.
