TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Two Florida universities could soon have wide power to decide how much to charge students.

Florida lawmakers are pushing ahead with a plan that would allow leading research universities in the state to decide how much they wish to charge for tuition.

Under the proposal now moving both University of Florida and Florida State University would be allowed to charge higher tuition than universities in other parts of the state.

A House panel is expected to take up the measure on Tuesday, while a Senate panel last week attached the provision to an unrelated bill.

UF President Bernie Machen says the legislation would allow his institution to become more nationally prominent. But Gov. Rick Scott has said tuition rates at this time should remain flat.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)