Two of the nation’s three horse slaughter plants appear likely to remain closed after they were apparently denied reprieve by the state Legislature, then turned away by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Texas House let a deadline of midnight Monday pass without action on a bill that had been expected to authorize the reopening of Dallas Crown Inc. in Kaufman and Beltex Corp. in Fort Worth, the Houston Chronicle reported.

In a second blow later Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied hearing the plants’ petition to overturn a federal appeals court ruling that effectively shut down the plants this year.

“We’re very disappointed but not surprised,” said Karin Cagle, a Fort Worth attorney who represents the plants’ Belgian owners