The state Senate could vote as soon as Thursday on a bill that would allow some illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at Oregon universities.

A bill that would allow undocumented Oregon youth to attend state universities at resident tuition rates drew hundreds of people Thursday to an emotional state Senate committee hearing.

A teenager pleaded with Oregon lawmakers Monday to allow her to pay in-state tuition at Oregon colleges even though she does not legally have citizenship.

Should undocumented college students who attended K-12 school in Oregon pay out-of-state or in-state tuition at the University of Oregon, Oregon State and other public institutions?

The hot-button illegal immigration issue was front and center Monday as Oregon lawmakers opened hearings on a bill to allow some students who are not legal citizens to pay in-state tuition at Oregon's public universities.

The federal government plans to legalize certain unauthorized immigrants who applied for a 1986 amnesty program but were unfairly excluded or never received a response to their request.

In their first two debates, Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley and political activist Steve Novick adopted an "on the one hand, but on the other hand" stance over how laws should treat the thousands of undocumented workers.

The Oregon Essential Worker Immigration Coalition is planning a February launch of research and lobbying efforts to add their voices to a debate largely dominated by opponents of illegal immigration and by Hispanic and immigrant advocate groups.

Emotions rose in Salem at a hearing on whether to tighten driver's license access for those who cannot prove legal residence. More than 150 people signed up to testify on draft legislation and thousands more listened or rallied.