“It only speaks to one side of the issue,” said Fernandes, a Democrat. “I think we need a balanced approached that speaks to comprehensive immigration reform.”

Others who voted against the measure last time also remain opposed. Rep. Demetrius Atsalis, D-Barnstable, still opposes the bill because he believes it will make the state’s college-fee structure meaningless and will take away the incentive for undocumented students to legalize their status, said spokesman Tom Bernardo.

Rodas, who was granted asylum in the United States after becoming a poster child for the bill in 2006, said most of the immigrant students who would benefit from the proposal arrived in this country when they were young and are culturally American already.

“Most of these students speak English better than their native language now,” Rodas said.

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation estimates that 400 to 600 students might enter Massachusetts schools as a result of the bill and that it likely would result in $2.5 million of extra revenue.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, average in-state tuition at state universitiesis $9,704 compared with out-of-state tuition of $22,157. Average in-state tuition at state community collegeis $4,305 compared with out-of-state tuition of $10,811.

Dr. Stella Flores, a professor of public policy and higher education at Vanderbilt University,said one of the reasons the bill has struggled in Massachusetts is because the foreign-born population is younger than in other states, and because a large percentage of the state’s Latinos are Puerto Ricans who aren’t concerned about immigration issues since Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory.

She said states that have adopted in-state tuition laws have seen a small number of immigrants take advantage of the opportunities, mainly at community colleges.

“It’s usually a small jump,” Flores said, “but over time, as news spreads through word of mouth, you’ll see an increase.”