WATERTOWN, S.D.(KWAT)–The South Dakota Legislative session begins on Tuesday. One issue that’s sure to be discussed during the course of the session is the location of a new state penitentiary.

Governor Kristi Noem says the state’s plan is to build a new men’s prison on 320 acres of land between Harrisburg and Canton in rural Lincoln County.

There’s been opposition to the site. A group called NOPE, or “Neighbors Opposed to Prison Expansion,” says the state has not been transparent in selecting that site.

Noem says a lot of research went into choosing that location.

The governor says a new prison is not a “want,” but a “need”.

The 320 acres have an appraised value of just under eight million dollars.

The land is already owned by the state through the Office of School and Public Lands.

State law allows School and Public Lands to transfer property to another government entity for the appraised value.