Ark. Senate rejects immigrant tuition bill (UALR Public Radio) - Click above to listen to a full report from FM 89's capitol correspondent Kelly MacNeill.

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The Senate has rejected legislation to grant the children of illegal immigrants in-state tuition rates at Arkansas colleges and universities.

By a 13-21 vote, the Senate rejected a proposal by Sen. Joyce Elliott of Little Rock that would have granted the in-state rates to anyone who has attended an Arkansas high school for at least three years and has an Arkansas high school diploma.

Elliott told lawmakers that her measure would not be subsidizing anything for the students, and instead would offer them an opportunity at higher education.

"I cannot sit back and assume it's OK if I don't take steps to make sure these kids have an opportunity to go to college," Elliott told the Senate.

Elliott's proposal faced opposition from Gov. Mike Beebe, who says the proposal could violate federal law. On Monday, Beebe said he still has those concerns, but stopped short of saying he would veto Elliott's bill.

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