Idaho Republican lawmakers are moving to consider negotiations with Oregon to absorb the latter's conservative rural areas should they secede from the state.

A bill, which passed the Idaho House on Feb. 15, stipulates that the state legislature will begin talks with Oregon to negotiate the moving of the state border west to give Idaho a number of conservative counties in the eastern part of the predominantly liberal state, Business Insider reported. The bill is expected to pass through the state Senate, which has a similar, Republican-dominated composition.

The bill states that "the Idaho Legislature stands ready to begin discussions with the Oregon Legislature regarding the potential to relocate the Oregon/Idaho state boundary, in accordance with the will of the citizens of eastern Oregon, and we invite the Oregon Legislature to begin talks on this topic with the Idaho Legislature."

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However, the move to absorb the counties faces a greater hurdle in the Democratic-dominated Oregon legislature. In order for the secession to become official, it must be approved by the Idaho and Oregon legislatures, as well as the United States Congress.

The bill justifies the move by saying that "rural Oregonians are becoming increasingly frustrated with their state government and the trampling of their values and are seeking a state government that is more in line with their rural values and resource-based economy ... governance by the State of Idaho would align much more closely with the values and interests of eastern Oregonians, as indicated by eastern Oregon's history of voting in favor of Idaho's majority political party at least as strongly as Idaho does."

Eleven eastern Oregonian counties have approved ballot measures that signal their willingness to join Idaho. Union, Baker, Grant, Malheur, Harney, Lake, Klamath, Morrow, Wheeler, Sherman, and Jefferson counties have all voted in favor of joining Idaho, while Wallowa County is set to vote next.

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The movement to secede from Oregon is called the Greater Idaho Movement and has gained steam in recent years as Oregon becomes more liberal. The movement argues that eastern Oregon is much more aligned politically, culturally, and economically with Idaho than Oregon. The goal is to absorb 15 Oregonian counties.

Supporters of the movement have attempted to win over Oregonian liberals by claiming that both groups would be better off separated from each other.