Indiana wants to take some of Illinois’ counties.

Lawmakers in the Hoosier state passed a bill yesterday to annex 33 counties in Illinois.

Those counties have previously voted to separate from the land of Lincoln.

The bill now awaits Indiana’s governor's signature.

But just because Indiana said they'll take those 33 counties, doesn't mean it will happen.

It would take an act of Congress before anything can happen.

While it's a long shot, it has happened before.

The U.S constitution says no new states can be admitted to congress, nor formed within states, without the consent of those states and congress.

Meaning, Illinois has to also vote to let Indiana take some of its counties.

But it doesn't look like that will happen.

Governor JB Pritzker says Indiana's bill is nothing but a stunt.

But Illinois representative Brad Halbrook filed a bill in January mirroring Indiana's plans.

House Bill 1500 proposes the creation of the Illinois-Indiana Boundary Adjustment Commission Participation Act.

That bill never made it out of committee.

Non-profit organization, New Illinois, said it's time for a change.

"We're trying to kick ourselves out of Illinois. Under what New Illinois proposes, is however many of the 101 counties wanted to be in a new state that was not Illinois would be able to do so," G.H Merritt, board chairman for New Illinois, said.

Merritt said the state's politics aren't representative of the entire state and its interests are skewed in favor of Chicago.

"And it is the responsibility of their legislatures to do what's in the best interest of their people. Unfortunately, that's not always what's in the best interest of people that live in rural and small town and suburban areas." Merritt said.

But Merritt said that doesn't mean they're ready and willing to join the state of Indiana.

"And we went there because we appreciated the fact that they emphasized with our problem, and they were hearing us, but we didn't go there to say we were in support of having the counties join Indiana,” Merritt said.

Pritzker spoke in January against the bill...and his representatives told us his opinion hasn't changed.

Some of those referendums were on the ballot in 2020. Others were voted on in 2022, and 2024.