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Committee approves bill to study transferring up to 33 Illinois counties to Indiana; amendment expands study commission
Summary
Lawmakers voted 7–2 to advance House Bill 1008, which creates a commission to study the legal, fiscal and administrative feasibility of incorporating certain Illinois counties into Indiana; lawmakers debated process, potential fiscal impacts and precedent during testimony and an amendment clarified membership and quorum rules.
Senator Baldwin told the Public Policy Committee that House Bill 1008 would “establish a commission that would be dedicated to evaluating the feasibility and logistics of integrating 33 Illinois counties into the State of Indiana.” He emphasized the bill “does not enact the transfer itself, but rather creates a structured framework for thorough analysis and planning.”
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Eric Baldwin (Senator Baldwin), said the idea originated with interest from several southern and central Illinois counties that have held nonbinding referendums asking whether they would prefer governance by Indiana.
Committee members questioned practical issues and legal prerequisites. Senator Baldwin cited Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, noting that any change of state boundaries requires approval by the two state legislatures and by Congress. Baldwin said the commission would study details including debt allocation, borders, driver's licenses and other operational matters.
Senator Kyle Walker offered Amendment 1, which increased commission membership from 8 to 10 (6 appointees from Indiana and 4 from Illinois in the amendment text), set a later reporting date and defined a quorum so the commission could finalize a report even if Illinois representatives did not participate. Senator Walker described the change as a means to ensure the commission could produce a report “whether or not they participate or not.”
Scott Carpenter, testifying for a group that identified itself as Downstate Illinois Secession, told the committee he and volunteers have worked on the idea for years and described nonbinding referendum results. “Since early 2020, 33 counties have voted in these nonbinding referendums and their election results average 74% in favor,” Carpenter said, adding that his group’s analysis shows larger groups of counties could present different economic outcomes.
Committee members raised fiscal concerns. Senator Jackson explained his “no” vote and said he believed the measure could cost Indiana taxpayers “up towards $2,000,000,000” if implemented; Baldwin replied the bill’s purpose is only to study possibilities and said he believed a careful commission could identify approaches that would avoid negative impacts to current Hoosiers.
After amendment debate and brief public testimony the committee voted to advance the bill as amended by a roll-call vote of 7–2. Senator Spencer recorded the lone Nay on the floor during the roll call; Senator Jackson announced a No vote and gave a statement explaining his vote.
House Bill 1008 creates a study commission; it does not transfer territory, change law, or obligate state funds beyond carrying out the commission’s work if authorized and funded later in the process.
Sources: testimony of Senator Baldwin and Scott Carpenter; Amendment 1 as read into the record by Senator Walker; roll-call recorded in committee.
