French lawmakers have approved a bill that removes any legal basis for the idea that marriage creates an obligation to engage in sexual relations. The court held that such interpretations violated sexual autonomy within marriage, prompting France to align its civil code with modern consent standards. Supporters of the bill say marriage should never imply permanent sexual consent. The reform also builds on France’s broader legal changes that now define rape strictly around clear and revocable consent. The bill is expected to pass its final stages and become law in the coming weeks.