Florida First Cousin Marriage Ban Fails

For first cousins in Florida considering marriage, the opportunity to wed remains open after a bill aimed at banning the practice failed to pass the state Senate. This outcome means Florida continues to be one of 16 states where marriage between first cousins is legally permitted without restrictions.

Legislative Setback for Marriage Ban

The legislation, HB-733, sought to prohibit incestuous marriages from being recognized for any purpose within Florida. However, the bill did not advance, leaving the existing laws in place. The legislation defined collateral consanguinity, specifying that individuals cannot marry relatives such as sisters, aunts, or nieces, and vice versa for women marrying brothers, uncles, or nephews.

While a majority of U.S. states ban first cousin marriage, Florida remains among those with no restrictions. State Republican Rep. Dean Black, who supported the bill, expressed surprise at its failure to pass, especially after encountering no pushback when he initially included the measure in a broader Department of Health bill. He hopes the legislation will be reconsidered in 2027.

Historical Context and Future Hopes

Rep. Black noted that historical context might explain the allowance of cousin marriages in the past, citing lower population densities and difficulty finding partners when Florida was less developed. He mentioned that during the Civil War era, cousin marriage was more common and legal in 34 states. However, he stressed that in contemporary times, with ample population, individuals have numerous options for partners outside of first cousins.

Nine other states have partial bans with exceptions, such as conditions related to infertility, age, or same-sex relationships. Florida, along with states like California, New York, Massachusetts, and Georgia, currently has no restrictions on first cousin marriage. Black attributed the bill’s failure partly to disagreements over legislative elements that created an impasse, causing the bill to die as the session’s deadline passed. He remains hopeful that the bill will be reintroduced in a future session.

• A bill to ban first cousin marriage in Florida failed to pass the state Senate.
• Florida is one of 16 states with no restrictions on first cousin marriage.
• Rep. Dean Black supported the bill and hopes it will be reintroduced in 2027.
• Historical context suggests cousin marriage was more common in earlier periods.
• Disagreements over legislative elements contributed to the bill’s failure.