A divided Florida Senate voted Thursday to allow students who are undocumented immigrants to qualify for in-state college tuition rates. 

The vote was not unexpected, but it was landmark decision after the Senate had an acrimonious debated about immigration laws. The Republican-controlled Senate had killed the proposal multiples times in the past few years, The Associated Press reported.

The bill will now go to Gov. Rick Scott, who has publicly endorsed the legislation. 

"It's an exciting day for every student that dreams of a college education," Scott said after the bill passed. "This is a historic day. Children who grow up in this state now get the same tuition as their peers."

The bill appeared to be in jeopardy many times during this year's session as many Republicans criticized the bill and said it was "pandering." Nevertheless, it became a top priority for Gov. Scott during an election year in a state with a large Hispanic population. 

The bill will enable students who reside in the country illegally to pay the same tuition rate as other residents if they attended a Florida school for at least three years before graduation. 

Currently, the in-state tuition rate is one-quarter of what is paid by out-of-state students, including students who are undocumented. 

The bill will also prevent state universities from raising tuition rates above the rates set by the legislature. 

The vote, which passed 26-13, followed a debate in which senators quoted Langston Hughes to Walt Disney to justify supporting the bill (HB 851). 

Those who supported the bill said that it is wrong to penalize students who were brought to the country as young children. 

Conversely, many GOP senators questioned the cost of the measure as it will cost $50 million when implemented. They said the state should not "reward people" who break the law by living in the U.S. illegally. 

"I know it feels good giving benefits away," said Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach. "We are giving so many benefits to non-citizens. ... Does it matter even being an American citizen anymore?"

Sen. Jack Latvala, a Republican who supported the bill, countered Bean by saying that the "eyes of America" were on Florida and that it was time for lawmakers to "do the right thing."