STATEHOUSE (Feb. 21, 2025) – The Indiana House of Representatives advanced legislation co-authored by State Rep. Jack Jordan (R-Bremen) to look at adjusting Indiana's border to welcome Illinois counties that have voted to secede from their state.
House Bill 1008, a House Republican priority bill, would establish the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission to explore advantages of redrawing state lines. Since 2020, 33 Illinois counties have voted to secede from their state, including seven in the most recent November election.
"If those Illinois counties want to separate from their state, we think they should consider joining Indiana," Jordan said. "Indiana offers a great quality of life and for those Illinois residents who feel like they are being ignored, we would happily welcome them to our state."
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, at least 100,000 Illinois residents have chosen to leave Illinois and come to Indiana since the pandemic. According to multiple studies, high taxes were the number one reason why Illinois residents fled the state.
In Indiana, the Republican-led General Assembly has cut taxes for Hoosiers every year over the last decade, including cutting the income tax each of the next two years. Since the pandemic, Indiana's GDP has grown by 9.3 percent, more than any other Midwest state and three and half times the rate of Illinois'.
Indiana ranks 1st in the Midwest and 10th in the nation in the Tax Foundation's 2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index and 1st in the Midwest and 6th in the nation in Chief Executive Magazine’s annual ‘Best & Worst States for Business’ survey.
For the commission to move forward, Illinois would need to pass a similar bill. House Bill 1500, authored by Rep. Brad Halbrook, has been filed in the Illinois General Assembly. Any state boundary adjustments would need to be approved by both state legislatures and Congress.
"To me, Indiana is home and it's the best state to work, live and raise a family," Jordan said. "Our door is open, and we would love to see even more Illinois residents choose to become Hoosiers."
House Bill 1008 now moves to the Senate for further consideration. For more information, or to watch session and committee meetings live, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Jack Jordan (R-Bremen) represents House District 17,
which includes all of Fulton County, and portions of Marshall and Pulaski counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
