Lawmakers started legislative work for the long session on Wednesday. The budget is a top priority but other hot-button issues like abortion and medical marijuana are sure to stir heated debate.
A Republican-backed medical marijuana bill got broad bipartisan support in the state Senate last year but stalled in the House. This year could be different, according to House Speaker Tim Moore.
"Where there's, you know, some tight controls and pharmaceutical involvement there is some support for it," he said.
Meanwhile, Moore seems confident House and Senate Republicans will reach consensus on a bill to further restrict abortion--currently banned after 20 weeks or pregnancy. A likely meeting point is a ban after the first trimester or around 12 weeks.
A bill from Democrats would codify abortion rights once protected by the now overturned Roe v. Wade case. Moore says that bill has almost no chance of moving out of committee.