A Senate panel is narrowly backing a proposal to allow qualified Florida students to pay in-state college tuition rates even if they are in the country illegally.
But the 8-5 vote in favor of the bill (SB 1400) only came after significant changes were made. Several Republicans opposed the bill because they said it gives a benefit to people whose families broke the law.
One of the changes would require any student seeking in-state tuition rates to apply for citizenship in order to be eligible.
The Florida House has already passed a similar bill. The Senate version has one more stop before it makes it to the full Senate.
Gov. Rick Scott has backed the Senate bill because it would place limits on how much universities could raise tuition rates.
