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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA House committee on Monday approved a bill that could start an unusual and unlikely process through which several dozen Illinois counties could join the state of Indiana.
In an 11-1 vote, the House’s Government and Regulatory Reform Committee approved House Bill 1008, which would create a commission to discuss how Indiana could “embrace” counties in Illinois who want to secede from their state.
The bill would establish the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission that could meet to “discuss and recommend whether it is advisable to adjust the boundaries between the two states.”
If passed as written, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun would appoint five members to the commission, with Illinois appointing the other five. The bill’s author, Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, said the fact that 33 rural counties in southern Illinois have voted in non-binding ballot measures to secede from their state led him to write the proposal.
“We’re not surprised Illinois residents are moving to Indiana. It’s a great state to live, work and raise your kids. If those 33 counties from Illinois want to consider joining our state as a path forward, we welcome that too,” Huston told committee members Monday. “House Bill 1008 starts that conversation.”
To actually have counties in Illinois break off and join Indiana still requires a longshot process that has not occurred in modern U.S. history. First, the Illinois Legislature would have to pass a similar bill to begin substantive discussions. That bill has not yet received a hearing in the Illinois House.
Then, any official boundary shifts would require approval from both the Illinois General Assembly and U.S. Congress.
The bill has ruffled feathers from the start, with Huston having to answer questions about whether his initiative was serious. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has called the measure “a stunt” and Indiana “a low-wage state that doesn’t protect workers, a state that does not provide health care for people when they’re in need.”
Those who testified before the committee, however, were all in favor of the measure. That included G.H. Merritt, a leader with the group New Illinois. She said many Illinois residents feel their voices aren’t heard in the state’s Legislature and referenced the rallying call of colonists preceding the American Revolution: “taxation without representation.”
“Our biggest grievance is we are not represented,” Merritt said. “We don’t have a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Our governor accuses us of wanting to kick Chicago out of Illinois. Not so. We want to kick ourselves out of Illinois.”
Merritt and others from Illinois who spoke Monday said they prefer to form their own state as opposed to being part of Indiana, but they thanked Hoosier lawmakers for hearing their concerns.
Lawmakers referenced statistics from the conservative think tank Illinois Policy Institute that concluded more than 83,000 people moved out of Illinois to another state from 2022 to 2023.
According to data collected by Ball State economist Michael Hicks, the 33 Illinois counties that want to secede have an average per capita income of $54,381, which would rank as the second-lowest in the U.S. if it were its own state. Hicks also calculated that if grouped as its own state, the counties would pay the fourth-lowest amount nationally in state taxes.
The Government and Regulatory Reform Committee approved the bill with only one no vote—from Democratic Rep. Chris Campbell of West Lafayette.
Two other Democrats, including Rep. Ragen Hatcher of Gary, voted for the bill. Hatcher said she feels that Lake County is often ignored by Republicans in the Indiana Statehouse, so she supports the spirit of the bill that listens to communities that feel they’re getting short-changed.
“I would appreciate some understanding of why urban areas, at least my urban area, in this state feel the same way as those people currently living in Illinois,” she said.
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Great idea. As Professor Hicks articulated, this would be bringing in the 33 least economically productive counties in Illinois, counties that as a group have poor eductional achievement and require substantial subsidy from the rest of the state, and adding that burden to the urban and suburban taxpayers of Indiana. Let them go talk to Missouri or Iowa. See if they want the dredges of Illinois.
And with all the problems Indiana is facing, this was deemed something important enough to put in a bill, run through a committee, and take to the floor of the two chambers for a vote? Are Huston and Bray the biggest clowns in the clown show known as the Indiana General Assembly?
Indiana is working hard to be worse than Missouri. This seems like another good step in that direction.
Huston and Bray are just upset that the Okies (and one or two others) have taken away their crown as “America’s Worst State Legislature”.
Just let it happen so everybody can see how terrible things would be for everybody involved except for the Chicago region, which would have a burden lifted off its shoulders.
the problem with letting it happen is its very difficult to make it unhappen. Once they are Indiana’s problem, Illinois isn’t going to want them back. So we’re stuck with the low prospect crowd…and we already have enough of them ardoung the place.
So, I think we put the kabosh on this unless the Indiana Republican Party wants to bear financial responsbiilty for the transition and ongoing support of these folks. From party funds, not tax dollars. Let Huston and Bray and their co-conspirators take the lead on funding this travesty.
Someone should have asked if they enjoyed the difference in roads when they hit the Indiana State Line …
I think we should give Illinois lake County and we can take the 33 Southern Illinois counties. Or we can just give Illinois Gary indiana.
Beyond silly. Lake County is one of the most productive counties in the entire state. A huge net positive for IN, even if it’s had its issues.
It’s the biggest steel producing county in the US; it has vital Lake Michigan ports; and it is home to the Midwest’s biggest oil refinery.
The 33 Illinois counties, on the other hand, have no value.
Just when I think the Indiana legislature has done the dumbest thing ever, something like this comes along. Just laughable. smh
Secession. When was the last time we tried that?
Another great distraction brought to you by the MAGA crowd. Is your head spinning? Hard to figure out what really needs your attention. THAT IS THE POINT!
Government by chaos, which is to say they’ve accomplished the Libertarian ideal: no government except the golden rule (not the one from the Bible but the one from Musk: he who has the gold makes the rules).
What will the Legislature do for money if Marion and the donut counties secede because we’re tired of funding the rest of the state?
First, they can move back to the Old Capitol in Corydon and walk up the block to eat their lobbyist dinners at Frederick’s Cafe & Grill (Tagline “Remember Grandma’s cookin? We do. Come on over, there’s plenty to go around!”)
We need serious legislators for serious issues – this is performative; it is “easier” than actually taking responsibility and tackling the harder issues. Here is the link to Hicks’ column. Bottom line – we don’t want or need the Illinois counties:
https://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/columnists/2025/02/03/illinois-counties-secede-indiana-todd-huston/78098269007/
Are we really paying our legislators to spend time discussing this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-__djIQgBJc
From The American President…