Bill to Welcome Illinois Counties to Indiana Heads to Governor's Desk

Monday, April 21, 2025 at 8:22 AM

By Travis Thayer @eagle993

HEA 1008 establishes the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission.

Shutterstock photo.

INDIANAPOLIS - Legislation authored by House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) welcoming Illinois counties that have voted to secede from their state to join Indiana passed the General Assembly and now heads to the governor's desk.

House Enrolled Act 1008 establishes the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission to evaluate advantages of redrawing boundaries between the two states. The commission will include six members appointed by the governor and five members appointed under Illinois law.

Since 2020, 33 Illinois counties have voted to secede from their state, including seven in the November 2024 election.

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. Indiana ranks seventh in the country for attracting new residents.

"Indiana is a great place to live, work, raise your kids and enjoy a high quality of life," Huston said. "We welcome our neighbors in Illinois seeking lower taxes and more opportunity to join us in the Hoosier state. House Enrolled Act 1008 starts that conversation and I'm eager to see it become law."

Indiana is consistently ranked as a top state for low taxes, affordability and economic opportunity. Indiana ranks first in the Midwest and 10^th in the nation in the Tax Foundation's 2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index and first in the Midwest and sixth in the nation in Chief Executive Magazine's annual 'Best States for Business' survey.

HEA 1008 was amended in the Senate setting a commission start date of no later than September 1, 2025.