A proposed Bill to make it compulsory to display the Ten Commandments in every public school (known as a state school in the UK) classroom in Texas has failed to pass through the state's House of Representatives.
The legislation, which passed in the State Senate last month did not make it through the House of Representatives as the session expired before the measure could receive a vote.
The deadline to approve bills before the session ends was midnight on Tuesday, at which time the legislation was still pending.
A similar bill requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools in South Carolina passed through the State Senate earlier this month.
Other religious measures passed by the Texas Senate will still have the opportunity to pass through the State House before the session ends on 29th May. These include a proposed law to allow public, non-religious school districts to allocate times for optional daily prayer and Bible reading, for students and staff to take part in. Authored by Republican Sen. Mayes Middleton, the bill would allow prayer or Bible reading to be delivered over a school's public address system, if parents opt for their children to participate.
Another proposed bill awaiting passage through the House of Representatives would allow school districts in Texas to hire or accept chaplain volunteers to “provide support, services, and programs for students as assigned by the board of trustees of the district." Under the bill, authored by Galveston area State Senator Mayes Middleton, chaplains wouldn't be required to be certified by the State Board of Educator Certification but would need to pass a background check and be endorsed by a religious organisation.