TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A new bill introduced during this year’s Legislative session sparked major headlines last week after it died in the Senate.
And it sparked an unusual question for many: is it legal to marry your cousin in Florida?
The bill — HB 733 — was first filed back in December by state Rep. Anne Gerwig (R-Greenacres), though it deals with a lot more than just marriage.
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In fact, the bill aimed for a variety of changes involving the Department of Health and Florida’s healthcare workforce.
However, a smaller provision included in the bill sought to prohibit marriage between first cousins. The specific text included in the bill is as follows:
“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. Marriages included in this subsection entered into after July 1, 2026, are not recognized for any purpose in this state.”
HB 733 (2026)
Current law already prohibits incestuous marriages, such as those between siblings, parents, nieces, nephews, and grandparents. HB 733 would have simply added first cousins to that list.
But while the full bill was unanimously approved by the state Senate earlier this month, it ultimately died after returning to the House.
Which states still allow first cousins to marry?
So far, well over 20 states have blanket bans on first-cousin marriage.
According to The U.S. Sun, Florida remains among 16 states that have no restrictions on first-cousin marriage. They are as follows:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Vermont
- Virginia
- North Carolina (first-cousin marriages are allowed, but not double first cousins)
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