ALBANY, N.Y. – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has proposed raising the state’s minimum wage to $10.50 an hour, making it the highest among U.S. states, and boosting the baseline for hourly pay in New York City to $11.50, according to a report from Bloomberg News.

As of January 1, the minimum wage rose in 20 states after voters approved ballot measures and legislatures enacted laws, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In nine of the states, the lowest pay increased because of indexing to inflation. Washington currently has the highest minimum wage with a statewide hourly rate of $9.47.

New York’s minimum wage is currently $8.75 per hour and will rise to $9 on Dec. 31, under a deal Cuomo struck with lawmakers in 2013. The federal minimum is $7.25 an hour. Cuomo said his proposal for $10.50 would be the highest minimum set by a state.

The proposed legislation is part of Cuomo’s broader initiative to tackle poverty in the state. It will be included in the budget Cuomo plans to propose later today.