About a dozen new and holdover bills that would overhaul Oklahoma’s criminal justice system are in the legislative pipeline.

Although it’s too early to tell, there are indications the bills have momentum. In her State of the State address, Gov. Mary Fallin again endorsed bills recommended by the Oklahoma Criminal Justice Reform Task Force and urged, “Send them to me to sign.” House Speaker Charles McCall later assured, “Criminal justice bills will move forward.”

Advocates for changes in the system are cautiously optimistic but recall what happened in the 2017 session, when eight of a dozen key...