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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas House voted Thursday to let clergy members refuse to perform marriages that violate their religious beliefs — further shielding the nation's largest conservative state from a possible U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing gay couples to wed.

Republicans, who control the Legislature and haven't lost a statewide office since 1994, say the bill will keep church elders from being sued for refusing to perform weddings that clash with "sincerely held" religious beliefs. Democrats didn't object, but took to the House floor to say passing it won't stop gay marriage from being legalized nationwide eventually.

"Some fine day, my partner and I are going to be able to get married in the great state of Texas. The Supreme Court will hopefully take care of that issue for us," said Rep. Celia Israel, an Austin Democrat who is one of two openly gay state lawmakers. "When that day comes, rest assured that, for those pastors and preachers who will take a more literal interpretation of the bible, my partner of 20 years and I will not be going to them to bless our union."

Texas' bill is less divisive than so-called religious objections measures elsewhere, applying only to religious wedding ceremonies and largely restating existing state law — hence Democrats not voting against it. Gay marriage has been banned in the state since voters approved a 2005 amendment to the Texas Constitution.

It was approved 141-2 after sailing through the Senate last month. A final, largely ceremonial House vote that'll likely happen Friday would send it to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign it into law.

Applauded by conservative preachers and pastors, the bill nonetheless raises some of the same issues as the religious freedom laws that sparked criticism this spring when approved recently in Indiana and Arkansas.

Supporters say such measures protect the freedom to exercise religious beliefs from government intrusion. Advocacy groups argue they allow businesses to refuse service to or otherwise discriminate against gay people.

Debate in the Texas House comes after the nation's high court heard arguments about the constitutionality of gay marriage for couples across the country, and should the justices rule later in favor of same-sex weddings, it would supersede the state constitutional prohibition.

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ABBOTT SAYS TEXAS WILL COMPLY WITH FEDERAL PRISON RAPE ACT

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has told federal officials that Texas will now comply with the Prison Rape Elimination Act after his predecessor spent years fighting the requirement.

Abbott told new U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch in a letter this month Texas will "fully implement" the standards wherever feasible.

The law requires segregating younger inmates from those who are over 18. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry refused to comply with the act, in part, because Texas classifies 17-year-old criminal offenders as adults.

Texas lost $800,000 in federal funding for noncompliance last year. Bills that would have changed the age failed to pass the Texas Legislature this session.

Abbott says he expects three state-run facilities for 17-year-old inmates to meet federal requirements next year. County-run lockups must also comply or face penalties.

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TEXAS GOP DIDN'T KEEP CONSERVATIVE PROMISES, TEA PARTY COALITION SAYS

A broad coalition of Texas tea party groups is slamming the state's top three Republicans, arguing they failed to ensure that the Legislature kept key conservative promises.

A letter Thursday signed by 28 grassroots leaders worried that, with the June 1 end of session looming, many of their top priorities didn't have enough time left to pass.

It singled out Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus, saying if these "liberty-advancing, government-restraining bills die, once again, we will get excuses rather than results."

Among issues unresolved according to the letter: securing the Texas-Mexico border, stricter immigration policies, tougher anti-abortion restrictions and "school choice," or voucher programs funneling public money to private schools.

Many signing the letter were members of Patrick's tea party citizen advisory board.

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TOUGHER RULES BILL FOLLOWING 2013 WEST BLAST HEADS TO ABBOTT

Texas lawmakers have sent to Gov. Greg Abbott a bill meant to strengthen regulations for storing the chemical fertilizer that caused a fatal explosion in West in 2013.

The Senate gave final approval Thursday to requiring ammonium nitrate be kept separate from combustible material. The bill also grants the state fire marshal new powers to inspect businesses that store the chemical and issue citations.

Businesses would have 10 days to fix problems or face penalties.

Companies also would be required to give multiple state agencies and local emergency officials reports on what chemicals they store. The Texas Commission on Environment Quality would make those records public.

Fifteen people were killed in West explosion.

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AMID TEXAS PSYCHIATRIST SHORTAGE, BILL OFFERS STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT

The Texas House has preliminarily approved a proposal offering to help repay student loans for psychiatrists who provide care in underserved parts of the state.

Passed Thursday 89-52, the bill provides help repaying student loans for medical personnel who work in "designated mental health professional shortage areas."

Those qualifying would also have to treat Medicaid patients, low-income children or people confined to some state-run correctional facilities.

The Senate passed the bill last month. It now needs only a final House vote to be sent to Gov. Greg Abbott to be signed into law.

According to a recent state report, fewer than 2,000 licensed psychiatrists were offering direct care in Texas as of September 2013.

The same analysis named 199 of the state's 254 counties mental health professional shortage areas.

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ON DECK

The House heads back to work at 10 a.m. Friday. The Senate convenes at 8:30 a.m., but only to consider local bills on an expedited calendar. Its full session will be at 11 a.m.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

"No Sticky, none for you" — Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, after reading a long list of bills appearing on an expedited House calendar. Bedford Republican Rep. Jonathan Stickland has for weeks used legislative maneuvers to knock bills off Thompson's calendar. The pair later hugged — but Thompson didn't sound like she was joking.

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