Reading Time: < 1 minute
Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce Fact Briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.
No.
Republicans have not voted against banning child marriage in Wisconsin. That includes Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany, who was tied to the issue in a viral post.
That’s because the bill has never been brought to a vote — a decision that rests with Republicans who control the state Legislature.
The bill was introduced in the 2019, 2023 and 2025 sessions. The 2019 version, when Tiffany served in the state Legislature, had two Republican co-sponsors. Only Democrats have led the bill since then.
Legislative records show none of the bills got hearings or votes, a common fate for many Democratic-led bills.
The legislation would eliminate an exception that allows minors between the ages of 16 and 18 to get married with written consent from a parent or guardian.
The Legislative Reference Bureau previously said 27 minors under 18 got married in Wisconsin in 2024, an increase from 2023.
This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Wisconsin Watch: Child marriage with parental consent is still legal in Wisconsin. Republicans have blocked Democratic efforts to change that.
- Wisconsin State Legislature: 2019 Assembly Bill 715
- Wisconsin State Legislature: 2023 Assembly Bill 1229
- Wisconsin State Legislature: 2025 Assembly Bill 656
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Wisconsin Democrats' climate change agenda
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Lawmakers intro a bill to ban child marriage. 'This is not about teenagers falling in love'
Did Republicans vote against a bill banning child marriage in Wisconsin? is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.
