Corruption of blood is the concept that transgressions by someone affect their children (“sins of the father”). This concept was rejected by the Founders and enshrined in both the Constitution and in law.
So what has Florida done? If a citizen of the US cannot demonstrate that their parents are documented citizens (“illegal aliens”), then said citizen is ineligible for in-state college rates, no matter the citizenship status of the student.
This is just another example of rightwing red meat. Things like these seldom pass, even here in Florida, but sometimes do. Proposing laws like these have a way of making folk heroes out of obscure backwoods politicians from the panhandle or the swamps. If and when they become law, they are often challenged and overrulled silently. I guess this is some wierd exception.
This is curious. I am not certain if this is truly a corruption of blood issue. Historically that theory has been used to punish the bloodlines of convicted criminals. In this case it appears that the state is attempting to confer a benefit upon children of legal residents. Thus, you would be looking at this from an equal protection analysis and trying to determine if children of illegal residents are a protected class and, if so, to what degree. That will dictate the level of scrutiny that the law must overcome. In-state tuition rules are generally tied to any number of factors. That someone is a citizen of the US or even a resident of a state does not automatically entitle them to in-state tuition. My wife attended UVA, paid taxes on her income earned while a student, registered and voted in Charlottesville, rented an apartment year-round her third and fourth years but was denied in-state tuition rates because here parents were legal residents of Florida.