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Committee approves study commission to examine moving 33 Illinois counties into Indiana
Summary
The Public Policy Committee approved House Bill 1008 to create a commission to study the feasibility of integrating up to 33 Illinois counties into Indiana; the bill passed as amended 7-2 after debate about economic impacts, appointment authority and precedent.
The Public Policy Committee voted 7-2 to approve House Bill 1008 on Oct. 27, 2025, establishing a commission to study the feasibility, legal structure and logistics of transferring up to 33 Illinois counties into the state of Indiana.
"The purpose of House Bill 1,008 is to establish a commission that would be dedicated to evaluating the feasibility and logistics of integrating 33 Illinois counties into the state of Indiana," Senator Baldwin told the committee, describing the measure as a study mechanism rather than an enactment of any boundary change.
The bill directs the commission to assess legal, economic and administrative implications — including taxes, debt treatment, border administration and services — and to report findings. Senator Baldwin and supporters repeatedly emphasized that the bill does not itself move county lines but only creates a framework to analyze potential steps and contingencies.
Debate focused on practical and fiscal concerns. Senator Becker asked how many people would move; Baldwin said the sponsor would obtain specific population figures but noted that 33 counties had held nonbinding referendums in favor of joining Indiana. Senator Walker introduced Amendment 1 (described in committee testimony), which increased commission membership from eight to 10 (six Indiana appointees and four from Illinois), adjusted reporting dates and defined quorum rules so the commission could finalize a report even if some members from the other state did not participate.
Public testimony included Scott Carpenter, who identified himself as a member of a group called Downstate Illinois Secession and said 33 counties have voted in nonbinding referendums since early 2020 with average support of about 74%. Carpenter provided various analyses and population estimates for larger groupings of counties and argued economic benefits. Committee members also referenced outside academic work: one senator cited a Ball State analyst, Michael Hicks, whose study the senator said projected adverse fiscal outcomes if certain counties were combined without mitigation. Senator Jackson stated during the roll-call sequence that he opposed the measure, forecasting it could cost Indiana taxpayers up to $2 billion.
After debate and the adoption of Amendment 1, the committee voted to advance the bill 7-2. The committee record shows several members spoke in favor or asked clarifying questions; the committee also noted that any boundary change would ultimately require approval by both state legislatures and by Congress under Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution.
The commission created by the bill will be advisory: the bill tasks appointees with studying issues such as existing debt, licensing (driver's licenses), fiscal impacts, service delivery and potential border definitions, and reporting back as specified in the amended text.
