Overview

• The statute states that “no person may knowingly marry such person’s first cousin,” and it takes effect on Oct. 1, 2025.
• Sponsors say existing cousin marriages remain valid, and coverage indicates the change adds no new criminal penalties for those unions.
• Rep. Devin Carney introduced the bill after Tennessee’s 2024 ban, with Rep. Steve Stafstrom co-sponsoring and pointing to scientific evidence on birth defects.
• With the new law, Connecticut is reported to become the 26th state to outlaw marriage between first cousins.
• Rules nationwide remain a patchwork, with New Hampshire also banning, Maine requiring genetic counseling, and several states permitting such marriages under age or infertility limits.