Summary
A bill to ban marriage between first cousins in Florida did not pass in the state’s house of representatives. Legislators plan to keep pushing for the ban, possibly through a separate bill or combined with another measure. Currently, 16 states in the U.S., including New York and California, allow first cousin marriages without restrictions.
Key Facts
- Florida's attempt to ban first cousin marriages failed in the state house.
- Representative Dean Black supports trying to pass the ban again.
- First cousin marriages were once common in the U.S.
- During the Civil War, 34 states allowed cousin marriages.
- Currently, 16 states, including New York and California, legally allow first cousins to marry.
- The topic remains under discussion in Florida's legislature.
