Undocumented students in New Jersey could be eligible for college financial aid as soon as this fall.
Gov. Phil Murphy will decide the fate of legislation that won final approval Wednesday from the state Assembly. The measure would extend financial aid to the undocumented students who are currently barred from applying for certain in-state aid.
The state Senate already passed the bill, which means it's up to the governor to decide if the proposal becomes law.
"This is the other piece of the puzzle if we really want to help these students succeed and contribute to society," Assemblyman Gary Schaer, D-Passaic, the bill's sponsor, said.
"Given the ever-escalating costs, many students, even with in-state tuition rates, are finding college more and more financially unattainable," he said. "Making this assistance available will make higher education a reality for these aspiring students."
Murphy said during his campaign for governor that he would support a plan to extend in-state financial aid to undocumented students.
But the proposal, which cleared the Assembly by a 49-24, largely along party lines, spurred sharp opposition from its opponents.
"Treating non-citizens better than citizens, I think, is fundamentally wrong," Assemblyman Jay Webber, R-Morris, said.
"This is just another pot to subsidize non-citizens and take away from the citizens in the state," he said.
The bill passed the Senate last month by a 27-10 vote, with three legislators not voting.
Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.