The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Faster Labor Contracts Act (FLCA) on Tuesday by a vote of 230-193. Twenty Republicans joined 210 Democrats in supporting the bill.

The FLCA would amend the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to set mandatory timelines for first-contract negotiations. After a union is certified, the parties could seek federal mediation if no agreement is reached within 90 days of bargaining. If mediation fails after 30 more days, the dispute would move to binding arbitration, where a panel would impose a two-year contract.

Bloomberg Law data shows it currently takes an average of 465 days for a union to ratify a first contract.

Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), who introduced the bill in September, forced the floor vote through a discharge petition after gathering 218 signatures, including seven Republicans.

Business groups opposed the measure. The CHRO Association argued in an April letter to House leadership that the bill violates the Constitution by allowing the government to impose contract terms on private parties.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have introduced a companion version, cosponsored by Sens. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.). More details to follow as the legislation advances.