People in Florida can still marry their first cousin as bill fails to pass

"One reason why many places have made marriage between first cousins illegal is an increased genetic risks for any children they might have. According to PET, children of first cousins are at an increased risk of "recessive" conditions, which are caused by the child inheriting two copies of a gene which carries the mutation. The risk is increased, because first cousins share 12.5 per cent of their genetic make-up, so could have inherited the same genetic mutation."

"It's still legal in Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia. Meanwhile, it's legal in some other states with some guidelines, such as if one partner is infertile or of a certain age."

"Florida's State Representative Dean Black told Action News Jax that he believes another vote on the bill will come. Black said: "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.""

Florida's HB-733 bill, which would have prohibited marriages between first cousins starting July 1st, failed to pass through the Florida Senate. The proposed legislation specifically outlined restrictions on marriages between relatives by lineal consanguinity and siblings. A primary concern behind such bans is increased genetic risk for children of first cousins, who share 12.5% of their DNA and face elevated risks of recessive genetic conditions. Despite this rationale, first-cousin marriage remains legal in 15 U.S. states including Alaska, California, and New York, with some states permitting it under specific conditions like infertility or age requirements. The practice is also legal in the UK, where it remains a debated topic.

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