Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey conditionally vetoed the measure that concerned amendments to marriage and civil unions and sent it back to the state legislature with proposed changes.
Christie wrote in his veto message: "I agree that protecting the well-being, dignity and freedom of minors is vital, but the severe bar this bill creates is not necessary to address the concerns voiced by the bill's proponents and does not comport with the sensibilities and in some cases, the religious customs, of the people of this state."
He did not disclose what religion he was specifically referring to.
The governor proposed putting more restrictions on New Jersey's current law instead, which allows 16 and 17 year olds to obtain marriage licenses with parental consent and grants them to those under 16 with a family court judge's permission.
He added: "It is disingenuous to hold that a 16 year old may never consent to marriage, although New Jersey law permits the very same 16 year old to consent to sex or obtain an abortion without so much as parental knowledge, let alone consent.
"That inconsistency in logic undercuts the alleged logic of an outright ban."
The top sponsor of the measure was the Republican Assembly's Nancy Munoz, who said at a committee hearing last year that she introduced the bill after hearing "compelling" stories of minors forced into marriages for religious reasons.
The measure could become law if legislators send it back to the governor with his recommendations.
