Florida continues to allow cousin marriage after a bill to implement a total ban failed to pass the state House at the last minute.
The bill was tucked into a large legislative package related to the Department of Health. Throughout the discussion process, there was almost no significant opposition. However, on the final day, disputes over other contents caused the entire bill to stall and expire—effectively killing the consanguineous marriage ban as well.
State Representative Dean Black stated plainly: Florida has no shortage of people to choose as life partners; there is no reason to marry a cousin. He affirmed that he would bring the issue back in the next session, possibly as a standalone bill to avoid being caught up in the fate of other regulations currently under consideration in the state.
In reality, Florida is not an exception. There are currently about 16 U.S. states that still allow unrestricted cousin marriage, while most other states have banned it or are facing legal controversies in California and surrounding regions.
In the past, this type of marriage was common due to sparse populations and limited choices. However, at present, many lawmakers view this as an issue that needs to end for social reasons, similar to cases like the Florida mother arrested for abandoning her children that sparked public outcry.
The failure of the bill this time is not the end of the road. Florida legislators have made it clear: banning cousin marriage is only a matter of time.
