Only 18 States Allow This — Florida’s ONE

A statue of Lady Justice holding scales next to a gavel in a law library

A rumored interview exchange between Sean Hannity and Governor Ron DeSantis about Florida’s first-cousin marriage laws never happened, yet the fabricated claim highlights a real issue conservatives should be paying attention to—Florida remains one of only 18 states where marrying your first cousin is perfectly legal.

Story Snapshot

No evidence exists of Sean Hannity making awkward comments to DeSantis about cousin marriage laws despite viral claims
Florida House killed a 2026 bill that would have banned first-cousin marriages despite unanimous Senate approval
Governor DeSantis publicly called for the ban, citing cultural concerns and “stealth jihad” risks from immigrant communities
32 states currently ban or restrict first-cousin marriages while Florida’s statute explicitly permits them

The Truth Behind the Viral Claim

No credible news outlets, video archives, or interview transcripts confirm Sean Hannity ever told Ron DeSantis he was unaware Florida allowed first-cousin marriages. Searches across conservative and mainstream media platforms reveal zero evidence of this interaction occurring. The claim appears to be fabricated or misattributed, likely gaining traction as satirical commentary during the March 2026 debate over House Bill 733. What is real, however, is Florida’s permissive law allowing such marriages and the legislative battle to change it.

Florida’s Surprising Legal Loophole

Florida Statute 741.21 explicitly prohibits marriages between parents and children, siblings, aunts and uncles with nieces and nephews, but makes no restriction on first-cousin unions. This places Florida among just 18 states nationwide that permit first-cousin marriages without limitation, alongside California and New York. The remaining 32 states either ban the practice outright or impose restrictions. Many Florida residents expressed shock upon learning this legal reality, with one telling reporters the practice “should have been banned many years ago.”

Legislative Failure Despite Bipartisan Support

Representative Anne Gerwig introduced House Bill 733 in December 2025 as part of broader family law reforms, including a provision to ban first-cousin marriages effective July 1, 2026. The Florida Senate unanimously approved the measure in early March 2026, signaling rare bipartisan agreement on traditional family values. Yet when the bill returned to the House, it inexplicably died without passage, frustrating conservatives who saw this as common-sense legislation. The failure represents another example of legislative dysfunction preventing meaningful reforms that align with American cultural norms.

DeSantis Pushes for Cultural Alignment

Following the bill’s collapse, Governor DeSantis addressed the issue at a Tampa news conference in late March 2026, declaring that allowing first-cousin marriages is “inconsistent with American culture.” He went further, warning that the permissive law creates risks of “stealth jihad” by accommodating certain immigrant communities where cousin marriage remains culturally acceptable. DeSantis signaled his intent to revisit the ban, stating “Need to do that,” suggesting the issue may return in the 2027 legislative session. His stance reflects conservative concerns about preserving traditional American values against cultural practices imported from societies with fundamentally different family structures.

Health and Social Implications

Beyond cultural considerations, first-cousin marriages carry genetic risks that public health advocates have long cited as justification for bans. Children born to first-cousin parents face approximately 25 percent higher chances of recessive genetic disorders compared to unrelated couples. While these marriages represent only about 0.2 percent of unions nationally, the practice remains surprisingly common in certain immigrant communities. The legislative failure leaves Florida aligned with states like California rather than the 32 states that have moved to protect future generations from preventable genetic risks through sensible prohibition.

What Happens Next

As of March 2026, first-cousin marriage remains legal in Florida under unchanged statutes, though media reports indicate the issue “may return for another vote.” DeSantis’s public advocacy positions him as defending traditional American family values against both legislative inaction and cultural relativism. Conservative Floridians frustrated with this outcome should contact their House representatives to demand action when similar legislation inevitably returns. The viral misinformation about Hannity, while false, served one useful purpose—drawing attention to a legitimate policy failure that threatens conservative principles of family integrity and cultural cohesion.