AGENTS NOT GETTING PAID DURING THIS PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. THIS MIGHT BE THE MOST BIZARRE THING IN FLORIDA THAT YOU NEVER KNEW WAS LEGAL MARRYING YOUR FIRST COUSIN. >> IT SOUNDS WHILE BUT FLORIDA IS ONE OF MORE THAN A DOZEN STATES WHERE IT IS LEGAL. GULF COAST CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER DAVE ELIAS EXPLAINS HOW A BILL TO OBJECT TO THIS LIFELONG VOW DIDN’T GET A WARM RECEPTION AMONG STATE LEADERS. >> WELL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, FLORIDA IS ONE OF 18 STATES THAT STILL BLESSES THE UNION OF MARRIAGE BETWEEN FIRST COUSINS AND BEYOND. I GREW UP IN WEST VIRGINIA, A STATE THAT SOMETIMES IS THE BRUNT OF JOKES FOR COUSINS MARRYING BUT STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA BANDED BACK IN 1955. AND MANY ARE ASKING WHY IT’S STILL ON THE BOOKS HERE IN FLORIDA. >> IT HAS A FAVORITE CAUSING AND IN FLORIDA YOU CAN BURY THEM. IT’S CERTAINLY WEIRD. I DON’T THINK THE FUNNY AND WEIRD IS A GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL. IF FLORIDA LAWMAKERS HAD PASSED HOUSE BILL 733, IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL BUT THEY DIDN’T PASS. IT IS PRETTY UNUSUAL THAT HAVE THAT. >> STILL IN THE STATE, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BANNED MANY YEARS AGO. ALBERT EINSTEIN MARRIED HIS FIRST COUSIN ELSA AND PRESIDENT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT MARRIED HIS DISTANT COUSIN, ELEANOR. WELL, IT MAKES FOR A NICE SMALL WEDDING >> THE PRACTICE, THOUGH, UNUSUAL ONLY ABOUT 250,000 SUCH MARRIAGES NATIONWIDE. IF YOU HAVE THE SAME GRANDPA, LIKE YOU DON’T WANT GRANDPA JOE TO BE LIKE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AT YOUR WEDDING. COUSIN MARRIAGES THAT ARE PERMITTED IN SOME COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA KNOW DEFINITELY NOTHING POLAND’S, BUT IT IS IN FLORIDA UNTIL LAWMAKERS CHANGE IT. I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULDN’T TAKE ACTION THIS TO GET OFF OFF THE LEGISLATION THAT THIS WASN’T THE ONLY BILLS THAT DIDN’T PASS THE LEGISLATURE. THIS SESSION WAS MET WITH A TON OF GRIDLOCK. THEY WERE UNABLE TO PASS A BUDGET NOR WERE THEY ABLE TO AGREE ON A CUT

Florida is one of 18 states where marrying your first cousin is legal, a fact that surprises many residents and has sparked questions about why the practice remains permissible.West Virginia, which is often joked about for cousin marriages, banned the practice in 1955, but Florida has yet to follow suit. If Florida lawmakers had passed House Bill 733, cousin marriages would have been banned, but the bill did not pass. Doug Schmidt from Cape Coral commented, “It’s pretty unusual they would have that still in the state. It should have been banned many years ago.”Historically, notable figures such as Albert Einstein and President Franklin Roosevelt married their cousins. Kim Schmidt from Punta Gorda humorously remarked, “Well, it makes for a nice small wedding party.”The practice, though unusual, accounts for only about 250,000 marriages nationwide. One resident pointed out, “I mean, if you have the same grandpa, you don’t want Grandpa Joe to be on both sides of the aisle at your wedding.”Cousin marriages are permitted in some countries, including those in the Middle East and North Africa. Margie Vanbentizen, a Polish native, stated, “No! Definitely not in Poland.”Doug Schmidt from Cape Coral expressed confusion over the lack of legislative action, saying, “I can’t understand why you wouldn’t take action just to get it off the legislation.”Several bills faced challenges, as the legislature experienced significant gridlock, failing to pass priorities, including a budget or decreases in property taxes.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Florida is one of 18 states where marrying your first cousin is legal, a fact that surprises many residents and has sparked questions about why the practice remains permissible.

West Virginia, which is often joked about for cousin marriages, banned the practice in 1955, but Florida has yet to follow suit.

If Florida lawmakers had passed House Bill 733, cousin marriages would have been banned, but the bill did not pass. Doug Schmidt from Cape Coral commented, “It’s pretty unusual they would have that still in the state. It should have been banned many years ago.”

Historically, notable figures such as Albert Einstein and President Franklin Roosevelt married their cousins. Kim Schmidt from Punta Gorda humorously remarked, “Well, it makes for a nice small wedding party.”

The practice, though unusual, accounts for only about 250,000 marriages nationwide. One resident pointed out, “I mean, if you have the same grandpa, you don’t want Grandpa Joe to be on both sides of the aisle at your wedding.”

Cousin marriages are permitted in some countries, including those in the Middle East and North Africa. Margie Vanbentizen, a Polish native, stated, “No! Definitely not in Poland.”

Doug Schmidt from Cape Coral expressed confusion over the lack of legislative action, saying, “I can’t understand why you wouldn’t take action just to get it off the legislation.”

Several bills faced challenges, as the legislature experienced significant gridlock, failing to pass priorities, including a budget or decreases in property taxes.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.