HOUSTON - The House of Representatives in the US state of Texas on Saturday passed a bill that would allow college students with concealed handgun licenses to carry firearms in classrooms and buildings.

The bill would allow students, faculty and staff of a public college or university who are licensed to carry concealed handguns to bring them into classrooms, according to the Houston Chronicle.

However, the bill, which will likely move to the Senate upon third reading, would allow schools to opt-out of the mandate, according to the report.

Also on Saturday, a day dubbed "gun day" by supporters and opponents alike, the texas House gave preliminary approval to a batch of bills to further soften gun laws that were already among the country's most firearms-friendly.

Those gun rights expansion bills would allow college students to carry handguns in class, put potentially armed marshals in public schools and exempt the state from any future federal bans on assault rifles, high-capacity magazines or universal background checks, according to media re ports.

The 12 approved gun bills must all clear final, procedural votes before heading to the state Senate.

The bills were approved as tens of thousands of members of the National Rifle Association attended the group's annual convention in Houston.