Bill To Allow Illinois Counties To Join Indiana Passes

A little redoodle of state lines might be in the future.

We've told you about this possibility from day one. Several Illinois counties voted last year on the possibility of exploring secession from the state and for many of them, it passed. Now, it's in the hands of both Illinois and Indiana state leadership to determine what's going to happen.

Read More: Is This What The New Illinois/Indiana Border Would Be?

Before we get to what's happened this week, let's refresh your memory on a possible new border:

The Red parts of Illinois want to join Indiana, and the Blue parts of Indiana want to join Illinois

Now, according to Indiana station WTHR, both the Indiana House and Senate have passed the bill allowing the select Illinois counties to join their state. The bill now heads to the Indiana Governor's office, where it could be signed into law.

But here's the thing: even if Indiana Governor Mike Braun does sign it, there's still going to be a lot of work to be done to shift the counties into Indiana.

G.H. Merritt, chairman of New Illinois (a group that's pushing for the secession) said that under the U.S. Constitution, you have to have approval from a state legislature and from Congress for counties to leave a state. And in this case, for counties to join another state, you have to have the approval of both state legislatures and Congress.

That could be tricky, as Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is not here for it. He said:

It’s also, frankly, too easy to let partisanship and regional differences divide us. The idea that some place in Illinois wants to kick out another place in Illinois should not be on the ballot. It shouldn't be something that's part of a lexicon and discussion of politicians. We're one state.

Illinoisans in favor of the secession are still divided on how this would go, according to Loret Newlin, who is the director of Illinois Separation Referendum. He says there are 3 groups:

• one group wants to form a new state
• another group wants to join either Indiana or Missouri
• third group doesn't care, they just don't want to be part of Illinois

There are several things to consider, like Illinois' $150 million debt. Merritt said it would be like an "evil dowry" if they take on 10% of the state.