First-cousin marriage bill dies in House

A bill that would have recognized marriages between first cousins obtained outside Delaware was defeated in the House May 6 with 23 votes against it. Twelve members supported the bill, five were absent and one did not vote.

None of the House leadership voted for House Bill 8, sponsored by Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, D-Newark. Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, D-Rehoboth Beach, also did not vote for the bill. Rep. Stell Parker Selby, D-Milton, was absent.

The bill would have amended Delaware’s marriage laws to recognize a valid marriage between first cousins obtained or recognized outside Delaware, either out of state or by another country. The bill would not have legalized marriages between first cousins in Delaware.

Wilson-Anton said a constituent brought his concern to her when his immigration application was denied and he was told to move to a state where these marriages are recognized.

“Honestly, I was a bit surprised that it’s an issue,” she said. “I see this as an issue of folks having rights afforded to them as validly married, but also as an issue of economic development.”

Instead of moving to Delaware, she said people are moving elsewhere and taking their economic activity with them.

There was no discussion either for or against the bill before the vote was taken.