Bill Banning 'Incestuous Marriages' Fails In FL Senate

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Legislation that would have banned marriage between first cousins in Florida recently failed to pass in the state Senate, according to reports.

Florida lawmakers voted against HB-733, which proposed that “incestuous marriages” would not be recognized for any purpose in the state of Florida after July 1, The Hill reported.

"A man may not marry any woman who is a lineal descendant of his grandparent. A woman may not marry any man who
is a lineal descendant of her grandparent," the proposed bill stated.

According to an Action News Jax report, the legislation was proposed by Republican State Rep. Dean Black as part of larger bill impacting the Florida Department of Health.

“There are plenty of people here, and there are plenty of people you can find to be your lifelong partner without looking to your first cousin,” Black said. ”So, yes. I think it should come back, whether it’s a standalone bill, whether it’s tagged onto some other bill. Not really sure. We’ll have to see.”

Florida is one of more than a dozen U.S. states where marrying a first cousin remains legal. Several others allow it under specific conditions, such as infertility or being over a certain age.

Other states that have no restrictions on first cousins marrying include California, New York, Massachusetts, Alabama, Vermont, and Georgia, the TV station reported.

While the practice is illegal in most U.S. states, Florida is one of more than a dozen states where marrying a first cousin remains legal. A handful of other states allow it under specific conditions, such as infertility or being over a certain age.