LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would freeze Nebraska’s minimum wage at $8 an hour for most high school students has advanced out of a legislative committee.

The Business and Labor Committee voted Tuesday on the measure, which would apply to high school students younger than 19. Nebraska’s minimum wage increased from $7.25 to $8 an hour on Jan. 1, and is scheduled to rise again to $9 in 2016.

Sen. Laura Ebke of Crete has said she introduced the bill to help businesses that rely on high school aged employees. Some rural grocery stores have said they’re already struggling, and the higher wage would make it harder to stay in business.

Another bill that would increase the wage for tipped employees, such as restaurant servers, failed to advance.