Each U.S. state has a law that sets the legal “age of majority” for its residents—the age at which residents are empowered with the rights and responsibilities of adulthood. All states also have a law that provides exceptions to the state age of majority allowing minors to consent to specific types of health care services in general and/or sexually transmitted infection (STI) services specifically.  

This longitudinal dataset captures changes in the law from May 31, 2022, through December 31, 2024, and includes questions regarding minors’ authority to autonomously consent to general health care, HIV, and STI services. This dataset includes state statutes and regulations for the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.    

This dataset was created by Legal Resource Center for Public Health Policy at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law in collaboration with Temple University’s Center for Public Health Law Research. The dataset was created with support and from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award in the amount of $1,038,262.00 to Temple University. The contents do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS, or the U.S. government.  

Please note: the information contained herein does not constitute legal advice. If you have questions regarding your legal rights or obligations, contact an attorney in your jurisdiction.