MITCHELL, S.D.(KMIT)- Governor Noem made a stop in Mitchell on Wednesday for a bill signing and townhall.  In a Mitchell Senior High School library packed with constituents, teachers, students, Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden, several members of her staff, and a handful of state legislators, Noem signed House Bill 1022, which makes an appropriation so that the Department of Education can continue to provide professional development in literacy to teachers.

The governor also signed Senate Bill 127, which establishes a minimum teacher salary and revises the requirements pertaining to average teacher compensation.

Following the bill signing, the governor talked about some of the bills her office proposed this session, including a bill to prevent ownership of South Dakota ag land by six foreign countries – China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela.  She also talked about a bill that combats antisemitism by considering its definition when investigating unfair or discriminatory practices into law.  Noem stressed the importance of standing with Israel.  She told the crowd that since that bill was signed into law, South Dakota has been overwhelmed by death threats due to its official stance with Israel.