PIERRE, S.D. (KWAT) — South Dakota lawmakers are meeting in Pierre today for a one day special session.

At issue is how to spend more than $1.2 billion dollars from the federal government for COVID-19 related expenses.

The session began with a speech from Governor Kristi Noem on the floor of the House of Representatives.

She says South Dakota has fared better than most any other state since the pandemic began.

But the Governor acknowledged there’s been pain along the way. Two-hundred-forty-eight South Dakotans have died from COVID-19, including Huron legislator Bob Glanzer.

South Dakota’s active number of COVID-19 cases is as high as its been since the pandemic started. It’s at more than 4,200 cases today.