SANTA FE – The New Mexican Senate overwhelmingly approved a measure that would raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.50 per hour to $9, the Albuquerque Journal reports. The change would impact mostly rural areas because Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Santa Fe all have higher minimum wages, with Santa Fe’s as the highest at $11.08 per hour.

Sen. Clemente Sanchez, who introduced the bill, said he garnered support from businesses in crafting the proposal. “The truth is that working people really need a livable wage,” Sanchez said. “I think this is reasonable.”

With such bipartisan support on the bill, it’s likely it will clear the House and head for Gov. Susana Martinez’s desk. Whether she will sign it before the end of the legislative term on March 18 is unclear. “The governor supports raising the minimum wage as long as it’s in line with neighboring states and doesn’t hurt small businesses,” said Michael Lonergan, the governor’s spokesman.

Of the surrounding states, Arizona and Colorado have minimum wages above $9 an hour, while Oklahoma, Texas and Utah follow the federal minimum wage of $7.75 per hour. New Mexico’s minimum wage legislation will stagger the implementation: $8.25 in October 2017, then $9 in April 2018.