Flags in South Carolina were not lowered Tuesday to mark the death of Coretta Scott King.

President Bush did not order flags lowered over federal buildings.

Gov. Mark Sanford said state law allows him to lower flags only in certain defined circumstances and that King's passing would not be one of them.

His spokesman, Joel Sawyer, said the governor has asked leaders in the House and Senate to adopt a resolution allowing the flags to be lowered on the day of King's funeral.

A bill giving the governor authority to lower flags on the Statehouse grounds to half-staff when notable national figures die is heading to the House floor. The House Judiciary Committee passed the bill Tuesday. The Senate is considering a similar proposal.

Efforts to give the governor more flexibility in handling that honor gained momentum after Rosa Parks' death in October.

At the time, Sanford said state law kept him from ordering flags lowered to honor the civil rights figure, although flags were lowered on federal buildings.

In Georgia, Gov. Sonny Perdue ordered flags at all state buildings to be flown at half-staff and that King's body be allowed to lie in repose at the Capitol.