Goals become clearer 4 weeks into 2016 Oklahoma Legislature

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – With a key deadline just past them, Oklahoma lawmakers are finding out which of Gov. Mary Fallin’s legislative priorities might eventually be signed into law and which are likely to wind up in the trash bin.

The 2016 Oklahoma Legislature has embraced Fallin’s proposals to reduce prison overcrowding and reduce or delay hundreds of millions of dollars in state tax breaks to help fill a $1.3 billion hole in next year’s state budget.

But proposals to trim public school administrative costs and more than double the state tax on a pack of cigarettes to increase state revenue may be on life support.

Lawmakers return to work Monday after passing last week’s deadline for bills to be considered by committees in their house of origin.