A bill that would give Illinois the highest minimum wage in the country cleared the Senate Executive Committee yesterday 9-5. Sponsored by State Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Chicago), the measure would effectively give Illinois at least a $10 minimum wage through raising the current wage floor of $8.25 until it reached the 1968 inflation-adjusted minimum wage.

The federal minimum wage is $7.25, while Washington state has the highest state minimum wage of $9.04.

The bill's chances of becoming law are unclear, though Senate President John Cullerton's office indicated that he supports the wage hike.