STATEHOUSE (Feb. 20, 2025) – Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston's (R-Fishers) legislation to look at adjusting Indiana's border to welcome Illinois counties that have voted to secede from their state passed the House of Representatives today.
House Bill 1008 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.
"We have a lot to offer in the Hoosier state. Indiana is consistently ranked among the best states for low taxes, business climate, economic opportunity and affordability. Our economy is growing at a faster rate than all of our neighboring states," Huston said. "If Illinois residents and counties are looking for something different, we're simply raising our hands and saying, you’d be welcome in Indiana."
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.
HB 1008 will now be considered by the Senate.
Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about proposed legislation, view calendars, and watch committee meetings and session.
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House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) represents
House District 37, which includes a portion of Hamilton County.
A high-resolution photo of Speaker Huston is available here.
