DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Legislation to boost Iowa’s minimum wage has earned preliminary approval in the state Senate. A bill that would gradually increase the minimum wage in the state to $10.10 an hour won backing in a Senate subcommittee Tuesday. But supporters in the Democratic-majority Senate said there is no Republican interest in the effort. That means the bill may have a tough time advancing in the GOP-controlled House.

Currently, the minimum wage in Iowa is $7.25 an hour. Supporters of the bill argued it would help low-income families and would reduce dependence on public benefit programs. Business groups opposing the bill said it could mean that employers would fire workers or reduce their hours.

Democratic Sen. William Dotzler, of Waterloo, said he’d be open to amending the bill to win Republican support.