PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Rhode Island House passed a pair of bills Tuesday that would mandate a 42-hour work week for firefighters, requiring towns and cities to pay overtime if the average workweek exceeds that number of hours.

The legislation, which now heads to the Senate, is backed by fire labor unions, which argue it promotes fairness in pay for firefighters. It faces opposition from cities and towns, which say it hinders negotiations and would cost the taxpayers in communities where a 42-hour week isn’t already in place.

One of those three communities, the Central Coventry Fire District, said Tuesday it would cost more than $720,000 to implement the bill. That fire district uses a 3-platoon, 56-hour work week, paying overtime after 53 hours per federal law. Under the bill, they would either have to start paying more in overtime or hire more firefighters in order to avoid overtime pay.

“We’re well aware of the need to properly compensate our dedicated fire responders,” said Fred Gralinkski, the chairman of the Central Coventry Fire District board. “But supporting this bill eliminates one tool that communities can use to curb costs.”

Paul Valletta, the lobbyist for the R.I. State Association of Firefighters, said the bill is about equality.

“We want to be paid like every other Rhode Islander,” Valletta told Eyewitness News. “If you work over and above your shift, we want to get paid overtime for it.”

On the House floor, Republicans including Coventry Rep. George Nardone argued against the bill.

“The bill does not give priority to the taxpayer,” Nardone said. “And the consequences are going to be nothing more than an uptick in all property taxes.”

Majority Leader Joe Shekarchi argued the legislation creates a “level playing field” for firefighters.

“It’s a fairness issue,” Shekarchi, D-Warwick, said. “It’s a respect issue, and to me it’s a public safety issue as well.”

Both bills passed 62-9. The first bill removes the exemption for firefighters from the state’s overtime law, and the second bill requires overtime after 42 hours in an average work week. The average workweek is calculated over eight weeks.

“I’m happy for the firemen,” said Majority Whip John Edwards, who was the lead sponsor of the bills. His own town of Tiverton is one of the three communities that doesn’t currently use a 42-hour week, and the town administrator there is opposed to the legislation because the town just negotiated a 48-hour work week with its fire union.

“I think it’s the right thing to do for the firefighters and our state,” Edwards said.

The third community that doesn’t already have a 42-hour work week is North Kingstown.

Edwards said towns that negotiate new contracts with fire unions before the bill becomes law would not immediately be affected, though they would have to comply the next time the contract is up for renegotiation.

The bills now go to the Senate. A spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo said she is speaking with municipal leaders and impacted unions.

“Should this legislation reach her desk, she will carefully weigh the concerns of all impacted parties,” press secretary Josh Block said.