TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Each year, more than a thousand youth in Florida get married.
In advance of the 2018 legislative session, bills moving at the state Capitol are aimed at ending child marriage.
Several measures have been filed in the House and Senate that would outlaw marriage for anyone before the age of 18 and close loopholes.
Under current Florida law, children who are 16 or 17 can be married if their parents give consent.
Additionally, a girl who has a child or is pregnant is allowed to marry.
Democratic State Rep. Lori Berman says the goal of the legislation is to stop innocent children from being victimized by adults.
Supporters of the legislation say that 70 to 80-percent of all marriages entered into before age-18 end in divorce.
Earlier this week, a Senate committee unanimously approved one of the anti-child marriage bills being considered.
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