Cities and counties across the state would be prohibited from setting higher minimum wages under a bill approved by the Indiana House.

The House voted 58-41 on Wednesday in favor of the bill, which was among those that House Democrats cited in their list of objections when they started their five-week legislative boycott.

Republican Rep. Mike Speedy of Indianapolis said the measure would protect hotels, restaurants and small businesses from having local officials set minimum wages for their workers higher than required by federal law.

Democratic Rep. Dennis Tyler of Muncie argued that under the bill legislators were telling city and county officials that they knew what was best for local communities and taking away local authority.

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.