House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, addresses the chamber on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. His GOP priority bill could prompt multiple Illinois counties to secede and join Indiana. Photo by Casey Smith, Indiana Capital Chronicle.

By Casey Smith
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS — Discussions on a bill that could prompt nearly three-dozen Illinois counties to secede — and instead become part of Indiana — will continue in the Senate after House lawmakers approved the proposal 69-25 on Thursday, Feb. 20.

Republican House Speaker Todd Huston’s proposal would create an Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission tasked with exploring the secession and transfer of counties that have already voted to leave the state of Illinois.

Huston maintained Thursday, Feb. 20 that House Bill 1008, part of the majority caucus’ priority agenda, seeks to show disgruntled Illinois residents that Hoosiers “welcome” those counties to join Indiana.

Since 2020, 33 Illinois counties have passed “advisory referenda” to secede from the Prairie State — with seven of those votes occurring in the November election.

“Hey, we’d love to have you. Because you know what? We always think it’s better to be growing than it is to meet the alternative,” Huston said.

He emphasized Indiana’s “fastest growing population” within the Midwest, driven by the state’s “vibrant” economy and robust private school voucher program.

Huston said his bill “is an opportunity to share” Indiana’s successes and “raise our hand to others to say we think we have a heck of a lot to offer.”

Democrats noted that a border shakeup is unlikely, though.

Illinois would need to approve the move, alongside Indiana. Then, it’d head to the U.S. Congress for additional vetting. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, said he’s not on board and called the Indiana bill “a stunt” that is “not going to happen.”

“I think it’s obviously going to be a super long shot that this will ever happen,” said House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne. “And I think it’s probably getting off of the real work that we have to do today.”

Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary, supported the bill in committee — highlighting that a majority of Lake County residents feel a similar lack of government representation as those in downstate Illinois. She flipped her vote on the chamber floor, however.

“As a super minority, we have little say on critical issues like the state budget or education policy,” Hatcher said. “I urge this body to listen — not just to those from another state who are seeking a place in Indiana — but also to the voices of the communities that are already here. Let’s give the same attention and consideration to the concerns of Indiana’s own underrepresented regions as we do to those from outside our borders.”