By: Nicholas Sohr

Every year, Maryland’s lawmakers are buried in legislation during their 90-day sprint of a lawmaking session.

There are typically more than 2,000 bills introduced. Some are big-time initiatives that bring out hours upon hours of testimony for and against and ride a very public roller coaster toward passage or defeat. Many aren’t paid much attention at all. Some are regular pet projects introduced by delegates or senators year after year.

And some catch us all by surprise.

Such is the case with HB 1021, which is titled “Family law – Prohibited Marriages – First Cousins.” Liam Farrell, of The Capital, spotted it first.

The bill synopsis does indeed appear to ban such marriages, but goes on to detail certain circumstances under which first cousins could wed – if the would-be bride and groom are both over 65, for example, or if one can show that he or she is infertile.

The bill was introduced by Dels. Henry B. Heller and Joseph F. Vallario Jr.