In this photo provided by Patrick Callahan, several House lawmakers sit at their desks on the House floor while they debated and voted through a teleconference system Monday March 30, 2020, in Pierre, S.D.. Rep. Julie Frye-Mueller, a Rapid City Republican, wore a mask and gloves due to the coronavirus pandemic. They were considering emergency bills pushed by Gov. Kristi Noem. (Patrick Callahan/South Dakota Broadcasters Association via AP)

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota lawmakers have passed a series of emergency measures as the state braces for the onset of the global coronavirus pandemic. Many conservative lawmakers remained wary of granting broad powers to the government during the crisis. It was a historic day in the Capitol as legislators convened and voted on bills remotely through conference calls in order to follow social distancing guidelines.

Republican Gov. Kristi Noem laid out parts of her strategy for limiting the spread of the coronavirus while keeping the state economy going. Legislators met Monday and into early Tuesday morning to decide on the temporary emergency bills.