House Considers Lowering Tuition For Immigrants

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) — Another bill that will benefit higher education-seeking students with immigrant parents has made its way to the Senate.

The bill will allow U.S.-born students to qualify for in-state tuition, regardless of being children of illegal immigrants.

After House Speaker Will Weatherford promised to back the legislation, a House panel unanimously approved the bill on Wednesday.

The bill came about after a federal court decision which overthrew state college and university rules that charged more money to Florida-residents who had immigrant parents.

This bill is not new legislation though – in the last decade similar bills have failed to pass. Last year a similar bill died on a tie vote in a Senate committee despite emotional testimony.

An analysis estimated that the legislation could cost nearly $22 million.

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