Indy Standard

Legislation authored by House Speaker Todd Huston has cleared the Indiana General Assembly and awaits the governor's approval. The proposed bill, known as House Enrolled Act 1008, invites Illinois counties that have voted for secession to become part of Indiana. The act also establishes the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission tasked with assessing the benefits of redefining the boundaries between the two states.

Since 2020, 33 counties in Illinois have expressed their desire to secede, including seven who did so during the November 2024 election. Significant numbers of Illinois residents have opted to move to Indiana, with at least 100,000 making the transition since the onset of the pandemic, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Speaker Huston commented, "Indiana is a great place to live, work, raise your kids and enjoy a high quality of life. 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.”

In terms of tax policies and business climate, Indiana holds prominent rankings. It is recognized for its low-tax environment, ranking first in the Midwest and tenth nationwide by the Tax Foundation in their 2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index. Chief Executive Magazine ranks Indiana first in the Midwest and sixth in the nation in its annual survey of the 'Best States for Business.'. House Enrolled Act 1008, amended in the Senate to ensure commission operations commence by September 1, 2025, is now poised for the governor's evaluation. Additional information about Indiana’s legislative session, which is scheduled to conclude by April 29, is available at iga.in.gov.