Florida fails to ban cousin marriage

Florida has failed to ban marriage between first cousins. The measure was included in a broader bill, which failed to pass the state’s house of representatives last week.

But legislators are set to continue pushing for the ban. Representative Dean Black, a Republican, told Action News Jack “I think it should come back whether it’s a standalone bill, whether it’s tagged onto some other bill.

“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,” he added.

Cousin marriage used to be commonplace in the U.S. and was legal in all 34 states during the Civil War.

But Florida is not the only stater where marrying cousins remains legal. 16 states, including New York and California, allow first cousins to get married with no restrictions.

This is a developing story. More to follow.