New Iowa Bill Would Absorb Illinois Counties

The Illinois state lines could get redrawn soon.

New year, new bills being introduced in the legislature. One of the latest bills introduced in Iowa is House Bill 2141.

The bill establishes an Iowa-Illinois boundary adjustment committee that will explore the possibility of moving one or more Illinois counties into Iowa. Their first meeting would be no later than September 1st, 2026.

The bill hasn't been taken up by the House subcommittee yet, but that's the next step.

Illinois Counties Want To Secede

Last spring, Illinoisans in certain counties (mainly in southern Illinois) voted to explore secession from the state, specifically joining Indiana. So the proposed redrawn boundaries would look something like this:

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

The Indiana-Illinois bill was passed by Indiana legislature but there hasn't been an update yet.

Illinois Governor Pritzker wasn't a fan last year of the Indiana-Illinois bill, saying at the time:

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.

Like with that bill, if the Iowa-Illinois boundary adjustment committee were to be voted to be formed, there's still a lengthy process that goes along with adjusting state lines. It would still need to be passed in the Illinois legislature and would still require outside approval.