AUSTIN – They say idle hands are the devil's playthings. But in the Legislature, they're the instruments of God.

Or at least, that's what it would seem, as lawmakers with no big overarching task to accomplish – like school finance or redistricting – look to the heavens for inspiration on a veritable congregation of bills touching on religion.After several sessions in which religious issues were less prominent, the Legislature this year is resurrecting some of the conservative Christian grassroots' favorites: Bible classes and prayer in public schools, marriages that are harder to dissolve, abstinence education and public declarations of faith.

Overall, such legislation could make the expression of faith much more prominent in schools and government.

"Our voices have been drowned out because they were doing other things," said Cathie Adams, executive director of the socially conservative Texas Eagle Forum.

"In Texas, we are a conservative state and we're conservative based on Judeo-Christian principles. I'm very excited that some of these legislators have the courage to carry such legislation."

Groups advocating the separation of church and state see the trend breaking their way, too, though: The legislative process seems to be tempering religious zeal.

A bill by House Appropriations Committee Chairman Warren Chisum calling for school districts to offer Bible classes started out as the type of legislation that groups like the Texas Freedom Network, which advocates for strict separation of church and state, rails against.

But by the time it passed the Republican-dominated education committee, the bill had changed so much that the group was applauding it as improving on current law governing Bible classes.

The organization praised lawmakers for adding, among other provisions, expanded training requirements for teachers of such classes and curriculum standards.

"What was interesting was that there seemed to be a deep interest in keeping religion out of that bill," said executive director Kathy Miller, who calls Mr. Chisum a "one-man wrecking ball to the separation of church and state."

"When the conversation can genuinely be about what Texans want – religious freedom protection and good public policy ... we can get to good public policy," Ms. Miller said.

Mr. Chisum in particular has taken heat for pushing the package of bills relating to marriage – encouraging marriage counseling and making it harder to get a divorce – while simultaneously leading the budget-writing committee, a job in which consensus building is important.

The Pampa Republican argues, though, that he and others are simply honoring the constituents who sent them to Austin.

"Especially as Republicans, as long as we do those things, we kind of keep our faith-based constituents out there encouraged that we're doing the right thing," Mr. Chisum said. "It is political ... as well it should be.

"They expect us to do those kinds of things when we come down here, and I'm proud to do it."

In addition to the notion that lawmakers don't have a dominating issue to take their attention, many say legislators are simply listening to their constituents about which issues matter.

Others say last year's elections put the fear of God into the lawmakers – namely that they should be doing what their constituents, particularly those active, vocal Christian conservatives, would want them to do.

Whatever the reason, the new focus could be seen as soon as lawmakers convened in January. Both the House and Senate adopted rules requiring the words "In God We Trust" to be etched into the dais and displayed permanently in the front of the chambers.

In the Senate, the measure was carried by Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, a freshman who has published a book about Bible study. He said it was as much a nod to the state's culture and history as it was to the Judeo-Christian principles he says the country was founded upon.

"We were, and still are, primarily a Christian nation, and you see that reflected in our laws. This is who we are as a people," said Mr. Patrick, who made a speech in the Senate protesting the invitation of a Muslim scholar to recite a daily prayer because it was just days before Easter.

"I'm excited to see a faith-based movement in our legislation. No one is trying, in my opinion, to place their religion on other people."

The "In God We Trust" measure was sponsored in the House by Rep. Richard Raymond, a Laredo Democrat who is also carrying a bill that protects Bibles from being seized in property foreclosures.

The bill analysis, written by committee staffers, describes the purpose of the bill like this:

"It is necessary for each individual of the state to maintain their sense of security through their perspective faith or religion."

Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, is trying to change the Texas pledge to include "under God."

One lawmaker has a bill allowing faith-based universities to have a columbarium – a place to keep ashes – on campus.

Another has bills banning chemical dependency clinics within 1,000 feet of a church and enhancing the penalties for prostitution that close to a house of worship.

Republicans are usually leading the charge to inject more religion into public life. The state party's platform opposes the separation of church and state, encourages the restoration of a chapel in the Capitol, strongly backs religious freedom and urges government support for faith-based organizations.

But recently, Democrats have been more vocal in staking a claim to religious issues. Some have argued that more state support for the poor, particularly children, is a moral calling.

And members of both parties have their own reason for making sure that none of the faith-based legislation goes too far.

Sugar Land Republican Charlie Howard, one of the House's most devout members, expects bipartisan support for his bill to allow religious expression in classrooms, because it clarifies that schools should respect a student's decision not to worship, pray or take part in religious activities. The bill passed the House State Affairs Committee with no opposition.

"Six years ago, these bills wouldn't have even gotten a hearing," Mr. Howard said. "We're gaining ground. ... And religion is a bipartisan subject."

Rep. Jim McReynolds, a Lufkin Democrat and Sunday school teacher, won funding for 20 chaplains in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – one for each facility – and 13 for youth detention facilities. Those kinds of measures, he said, help those in trouble, as long as nobody's preaching a particular kind of faith.

"I am a deacon in the Church of Christ, but I'm glad to kind of leave it at the church," he said. "Warren Chisum and the rest of them leading the charge up there, I'm not disgusted by it, but I just want to be sure we don't go too far with it. ... I probably know more second verses to hymns than anyone in the Legislature, but I wouldn't want us to overreach."

Republicans are being careful, too.

"The role of the government is in the Constitution. It shouldn't be harmful to religious institutions, but it shouldn't create a state religion, either," said Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, who carried a bill two years ago to create a moment of silence in schools.

"Those bills should be thoughtful, balanced, constitutional and respectful of different viewpoints."

Rep. Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple, is trying to pass legislation expanding faith-based community services, but her bill also stipulates that those organizations can't preach religion, which lost it the support of groups like the Eagle Forum.

Texas GOP chairwoman Tina Benkiser said she's glad to see a focus on faith in the Capitol, as "secular forces want to deny our past, rewrite our history and purge God from the public square."

"What [lawmakers] are saying is, and it's very bipartisan, is that 'No, we are a people of faith,' " she said. "We do have influence, and we should have influence.' "

Staff writer Amy Rosen contributed to this report.