Bill to restrict child marriages in Wyoming defeated in the House

CHEYENNE — For the second straight year, the Wyoming House of Representatives voted down a bill to restrict child marriages in Wyoming, even after the addition of several provisions intended to loosen the bill.

The final vote was 31-28.

Reps. Tyler Lindholm, R-Sundance; David Miller, R-Riverton; Jim Blackburn, R-Cheyenne; Jared Olsen, R-Cheyenne; and Cyrus Western, R-Sheridan; all changed their votes from “aye” to “no” before the final tally was counted.

Sponsored by Rep. Charles Pelkey, D-Laramie, House Bill 67 was a lighter version of a bill introduced in the Wyoming House of Representatives last year, which would have imposed a hard-line ban on all marriages involving individuals under the age of 18.

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