The Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission held its first meeting Wednesday, although no members from Illinois were present. During the meeting, the commission heard testimony from four individuals advocating for downstate Illinois counties to split away from their home state in some form.
The commission’s task is to discuss and recommend whether the boundary between Indiana and Illinois should be adjusted. According to a new state law, within 60 days of completing its work, the commission must submit a written report to the Indiana General Assembly.
### Background and Commission Formation
Indiana House Enrolled Act 1008, authored by Speaker Todd Huston, established the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission to explore the possibility of adjusting the state boundaries. Huston, a Republican from Fishers, explained that he drafted the bill after learning that 33 Illinois counties have voted to secede from their state since 2020.
Under the law, the commission can have up to six members from Indiana and five from Illinois. A quorum of six members is required for the commission to take official action. However, a quorum is not necessary for meetings, testimony, and discussions. Ultimately, any recommendation to adjust the boundary would require approval from both state legislatures and the U.S. Congress.
### Testimonies from Advocacy Groups
G. H. Merritt, chair of New Illinois, testified that her organization aims to create a new state separate from Illinois. However, she emphasized that New Illinois appreciates Indiana leaders listening to their grievances and acknowledged that downstate Illinois shares more in common with Indiana.
“Our goal is the constitutional formation of a new state separate from the state of Illinois,” Merritt said. She clarified that New Illinois would not support Indiana absorbing just the 33 downstate Illinois counties, as it would undermine their broader efforts. The organization’s only support would come if Indiana took all 101 Illinois counties except for Cook County.
Merritt shared her surprise upon receiving a call from Huston’s office about Indiana potentially absorbing Illinois counties, noting the financial debt Indiana would inherit. “We have never expected any surrounding state to be interested in taking a piece of this state because it could be financially not an advisable move,” she said.
According to Merritt, a representative from Huston’s office explained that Illinois Governor JB Pritzker would likely not appoint members to the commission, effectively blocking progress. “He told me that Indiana’s motive for doing this was to send a message to Gov. Pritzker and (Chicago) Mayor (Brandon) Johnson to correct course,” Merritt added.
### Indiana Leadership Responds
Molly Gillaspie, spokeswoman for Speaker Huston, stated the Speaker has pursued this initiative earnestly, while acknowledging Illinois’ reluctance to make appointments to the commission.
“When a third of counties in Illinois have expressed their dissatisfaction and voted to secede from their state, I’d say you should take that seriously,” Huston said in a statement. “We certainly take it seriously, we hear their frustrations, and we welcome them to the Hoosier State. I look forward to hearing the Commission’s recommendations on a path forward, and if and when Illinois comes to the table, we will be ready.”
### Illinois Officials React
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker dismissed the proposal at a January news conference, calling it “a stunt” and stating, “It’s not going to happen.” He added a critique of Indiana, describing it as “a low-wage state that doesn’t protect workers, a state that does not provide health care for people in need.”
Similarly, Illinois State Representative Brad Halbrook, a Republican from Shelbyville, introduced Illinois House Bill 1500, which mirrors Indiana’s bill. The bill calls for the Illinois Governor to appoint five members to the boundary adjustment commission within 60 days of notice from Indiana’s Governor if Indiana’s House Bill 1008 became law.
Halbrook expressed support for Indiana’s effort, saying, “The fact that Indiana has formed a commission to examine this issue shows just how visible Illinois’ dysfunction has become beyond our own borders.” He added that the discussions are “important and worth having.”
### Perspectives from Secession Groups
Laurette Newland of Illinois Separation Referendum (ISR) explained that her organization has three factions: those who want to join a neighboring state, those who aim to create a new state, and those indifferent as long as Cook County is excluded.
Newland emphasized that past secession referenda asked voters only about separating from Illinois, not about joining another state like Indiana. She said, “It is incorrect to assume that everyone who voted yes for the ISR would be equally happy to join Indiana or any other state. We can’t know the consent of the governed without a separate referendum that states moving the boundaries to become part of Indiana.”
Scott Carpenter of Downstate Illinois Secession suggested Indiana consider absorbing 74 Illinois counties in southern and central Illinois, which had a population of approximately 2.8 million in 2018. If not all 74 counties, Carpenter recommended at least some eastern counties with higher average incomes than Indiana.
“One reason Illinois may eventually want to get rid of these counties is that Illinois’ budget is based on high income tax rates, so these counties are a big drain on Illinois’ budget but would not be a big drain on Indiana’s state budget because Indiana’s tax structure is different,” Carpenter said.
Carpenter acknowledged skepticism about the commission’s effectiveness, noting Illinois’ likely resistance. However, he suggested that a looming debt crisis could force Illinois to consider drastic changes. “Moving the state line could be the only solution that can provide that influx of money.”
The 2024 State of the States report highlighted Illinois’ $51.5 billion in assets against $224.3 billion in liabilities, resulting in a $172.8 billion budget shortfall, contrasting with Indiana’s budgetary surplus.
Eric Ivers, another Downstate Illinois Secession member, said forming a new state was “a nonstarter,” as Congress would likely not approve it. He proposed that transferring parts of Illinois to Indiana made more sense, as it would not affect Congressional districts.
“We are essentially a drain on the Chicago area of Illinois, and they remind us of that regularly. They spend more money here than we send them,” Ivers said. “The change in the state governance would allow southern Illinois to become much more productive because we would no longer have to deal with the limitations placed on us by Chicago.”
### Commission Leadership and Next Steps
At the meeting’s start, the commission elected Jeff Papa, chief of staff and general counsel for the Indiana Senate, as chair, and Greg Newman, Posey County Commissioner and Posey County Republican Party chairman, as vice chair.
Other commission members include:
– Clay Andrews, farmer, Warren County Commissioner, and Warren County Republican Party chairman
– Former State Representative Don Lehe of Brookston
– Ray McCammon, farmer and former Sullivan County Commissioner
– Mark Seib, semi-retired farmer from Posey County
The commission agreed to meet again in early 2026 but did not set a specific date.
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This commission marks a unique effort to address regional grievances through potential state boundary adjustments, though significant political hurdles remain. The coming months and years will reveal whether this initiative gains traction among both Indiana and Illinois leaders.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/23/indiana-illinois-boundary-commission-holds-first-meeting-without-any-illinois-members/