<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579201256815.jpeg" alt="Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly gives her second State of the State address on Wednesday. Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly gives her second State of the State address on Wednesday. Daniel Caudill / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By STEPHEN KORANDA, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/taxes-weed-and-your-health-what-kansas-lawmakers-will-fight-over-2020#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — The 2020 Kansas Legislature is 
underway. And while Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly laid out some of her top
 priorities during the State of the State address on Wednesday, 
Republican leaders of the House and Senate (and Kelly's fellow 
Democrats) have some different goals.&nbsp;Here are five issues that will be top of mind for the governor and lawmakers as the session heats up.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579201287210.jpeg" alt="Medicaid expansion supporters rallied at the Kansas Statehouse on the second day of the 2020 legislative session. Credit Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Medicaid expansion supporters rallied at the Kansas Statehouse on the second day of the 2020 legislative session. Credit Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>MEDICAID&nbsp;</h2>The short of it: A new bipartisan compromise might pave the way for Medicaid expansion in Kansas, but it’s not a done deal.The details: Just days before lawmakers returned to Topeka, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Senate Republican Leader Jim Denning <a href="https://www.kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/kansas-paves-medicaid-expansion-path-after-governor-and-top-republican-break-partisan" target="_blank">unveiled a Medicaid expansion compromise.</a>The
 plan potentially could add another 150,000 low-income Kansans, and 
includes some things Republicans have been looking for, like a 
work-referral program and a provision aimed at stabilizing costs on the 
federal health-insurance exchange.Kelly was clear in her State of the State about what expanding Medicaid would mean.“When
 we do add this to our list of bipartisan accomplishments, it will not 
only save lives,”&nbsp;she said, “it will close the book on a long, 
senseless, expensive political fight — making room to improve access to 
health care and grow the Kansas economy.”&nbsp;The agreement marks a 
major shift, as Denning was one of the lawmakers who helped block 
Medicaid expansion in past sessions. But other Republican leaders have 
not endorsed the compromise, including House Speaker Ron Ryckman.&nbsp;“We
 all agree that we need to have a safety net for folks that need it,” 
Ryckman said. “This will be the first time in our history we’re 
extending benefits to folks that can work.”Still, with the 
compromise drafted, expansion advocates believe they’re starting the 
session in a strong position to succeed after years of failed efforts.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579201323708.jpeg" alt=" Some lawmakers are interested in trimming Kansas' food sales tax. The downside? Kansas could lose millions. Credit Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Some lawmakers are interested in trimming Kansas' food sales tax. The downside? Kansas could lose millions. Credit Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>TAXES&nbsp;</h2>The short of it: Kelly and Republican leaders are likely to clash over tax policy in the wake of federal changes.&nbsp;The details: Republicans
 may take another run at tax changes after the governor last session 
vetoed their proposals — including helping businesses — due to concerns 
they would cause budget troubles.Republicans, however, say that 
some Kansans and businesses saw their state taxes go up in response to 
federal changes, which is something the GOP wants to counteract. Larger 
businesses with overseas income would have benefitted under the <a href="http://kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/governor-kelly-strikes-down-tax-bill-veto" target="_blank">vetoed bills</a>.Trying to get those changes through is again a priority for some lawmakers and the influential Kansas Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;“Corporate
 income tax liability in Kansas increased,” Chamber President Alan Cobb 
said last month. “We’re at a corporate competitive disadvantage.”Many
 lawmakers want to cut the food sales tax, which is a popular idea 
that's difficult to accomplish because of the cost. Cutting it by a 
single percentage point would reduce tax revenue by <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/documents/summary_sb_22_2019" target="_blank">more than $60 million</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kelly
 has proposed reinstating a food sales tax refund, which lower-income 
Kansans would file for on their taxes. The thought is lessen the 
financial burden for people who need it most while limiting the impact 
on the state budget.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579201356188.jpeg" alt=" Industrial hemp, which is a strain of cannabis, grows at Tallgrass Hemp and Cannabis in Andover, Kansas. Credit Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Industrial hemp, which is a strain of cannabis, grows at Tallgrass Hemp and Cannabis in Andover, Kansas. Credit Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>MEDICAL MARIJUANA</h2>The short of it: Kansas took a baby step last session toward allowing medical weed, something advocates hope is the sign of a tipping point.&nbsp;The details:
 More and more states are legalizing medical marijuana, including 
neighboring states of Missouri and Oklahoma, or outright recreational 
use of the drug (see: Colorado).&nbsp;Kelly has said she supports 
medical marijuana, but the question is what type of bill lawmakers could
 craft in order for it to make it to her desk, considering previous 
efforts <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/cannabis-oil-advances-kansas-legislature-other-medical-marijuana-proposal-dies" target="_blank">have failed.</a>Lawmakers did venture into the cannabis caucus<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/doctors-note-might-get-you-hook-possessing-cbd-thc-kansas#stream/0" target="_blank"> last year</a>,
 giving people a legal defense if they use CBD oil containing limited 
amounts of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/no-smoking-kansas-medical-marijuana-push-aims-edibles-and-topicals#stream/0" target="_blank">One idea</a>
 that a committee studied before the 2020 session would allow only 
edible and topical forms of weed, not products that you can smoke. 
Another bipartisan proposal <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/kansas-lawmakers-introduce-bipartisan-medical-marijuana-bill" target="_blank">introduced last year</a> would give veterans the first access to medical cannabis for treating PTSD or physical injuries.&nbsp;Democratic Sen. David Haley believes enough states have taken action that Kansas may follow suit.“Finally,
 the learning curve is coming to Kansas,” Haley said. Later, he added, 
“Let’s no longer look at the stigma. We have passed those days.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579201397487.jpeg" alt=" A roadside sign in rural Kansas signals opposition to abortion. Credit Chris Neal / For the Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> A roadside sign in rural Kansas signals opposition to abortion. Credit Chris Neal / For the Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>ABORTION</h2>The short of it: Abortion opponents want to change the Kansas Constitution to protect the dozens of abortion laws already on the books.The details: Abortion opponents in Kansas were rattled by <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-supreme-court-state-constitution-protects-abortion-rights" target="_blank">a court ruling</a>
 last year that found, in essence, the right to abortion is in the state
 constitution. They’re concerned that’ll lead to knocking down abortion 
restrictions already in state law, such as banning many abortions after 
22 weeks unless the mother’s health is at risk.&nbsp;Conservative 
lawmakers and advocacy groups will push this session to change the 
constitution to specifically say it doesn’t provide a right to abortion,
 thus protecting restrictions already in place. Approving a 
constitutional amendment, which forces a statewide vote, is a top 
priority for Ryckman.“We want the folks of Kansas to make that decision: if we’re going to be a pro-life state or not,” Ryckman said.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/abortion-opponents-divided-best-way-undo-kansas-supreme-court-ruling#stream/0" target="_blank">There’s division</a>
 among opponents of abortion on the issue. Some would like to go as far 
as a constitutional amendment that would fully ban abortion. The 
influential anti-abortion group Kansans for Life doesn't favor that 
tactic, though, because they believe it would probably not stand up in 
court.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579201438808.jpeg" alt=" The headquarters for the Kansas state pension is in Topeka. Credit Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> The headquarters for the Kansas state pension is in Topeka. Credit Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>PENSION DEBT</h2>The short of it: The governor wants extra time to pay off the $9 billion in state pension debt so that Kansas’ budget doesn’t fall off a cliff.The details:
 Lawmakers have made strides in recent years paying down a long-term 
deficit in the state pension, the Kansas Public Employees Retirement 
System. Still, the shortfall amounts to <a href="https://www.kpers.org/annualreport2019.pdf" target="_blank">$9 billion</a>.&nbsp;There’s
 a plan in place to pay off the debt in about 15 years. Kelly said the 
payments will grow in the coming years to approach $1 billion annually, 
and the state should extend the payoff period for smaller payments. 
That’s known as reamortizing.Her idea was roundly rejected by 
lawmakers last year, because extending the payoff period could 
ultimately add billions to the cost of eliminating the shortfall. 
Republican Senate President Susan Wagle hasn’t warmed up to the idea, 
either, saying on the first day of this session: “I just don’t think 
that’s a healthy thing to do for a budget.”Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda" target="_blank"> @kprkoranda</a>.

2020 legislative fights in Kansas: Taxes, weed and your health