A bill that could see nearly three dozen Illinois counties secede is one step closer to passing after it was approved in Indiana's House of Representatives on Thursday.

Why It Matters

Some Illinois residents, particularly from rural or conservative-leaning counties, are seeking to join Indiana because they argue that Illinois' higher taxes, political climate, and urban-centric policies, which favor cities like Chicago, do not align with the interests of rural communities. These residents believe that joining Indiana, which they see as having lower taxes, a friendlier business environment, and policies more suited to their values, would be more beneficial for their economic well-being and quality of life.

However, opponents argue the bill is divisive and nothing but a "stunt." Meanwhile, some have argued that no state can secede on its own by law, making secession highly unlikely.

Calls for secession have been growing since the 2020 election. In February 2023, House Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene sparked widespread discussion when she called for a "national divorce" that would see the U.S. "separate by red states and blue states and shrink the federal government." There are currently secessionist movements active in 12 U.S. states.

Illinois Department of Agriculture employees work on installing flags to the Main Gate State Fair entrance in preparation for the beginning of the State Fair at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Monday, July 30, 2012 in... Illinois Department of Agriculture employees work on installing flags to the Main Gate State Fair entrance in preparation for the beginning of the State Fair at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Monday, July 30, 2012 in Springfield, Ill. More Seth Perlman/AP What To Know

The bill, titled House Bill 1008, was approved by lawmakers in the House in a 69-25 vote on Thursday. It would see 33 Illinois counties become part of Indiana.

The bill, proposed by Republican House Speaker Todd Huston, would also create an Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission tasked with exploring the secession and transfer of counties that have already voted to leave the state of Illinois. The proposed commission would have five appointed Hoosier lawmakers and five appointees from Illinois.

Since 2020, 33 counties in Illinois have held "advisory referenda" on the issue of secession from the state, including seven of these votes in the most recent November election. However, the referenda language involved the counties splitting off to create a new, 51st state—not joining Indiana.

It comes amid a push for Illinois counties to separate which has been ongoing for at least a decade, with those in favor of secession arguing that Chicago's dominance in Illinois government ensures strong Democratic control, despite the majority of the state's land being rural and Republican-dominated. Illinois has a population of almost 13 million, with roughly half residing in the greater Chicago area. The "Illinois Separation Referendum" movement says it is for those who "no longer consent to being governed by the Cook County-dominated legislature."

Gina Merritt, chair of New Illinois, has also argued that rural communities have more in common with Indiana, such as fiscal discipline and lower taxes.

Huston said the bill aims to show Illinois residents that Hoosiers would gladly welcome their counties into Indiana. "Hey, we'd love to have you. Because you know what? We always think it's better to be growing than it is to meet the alternative," Huston remarked. He pointed to Indiana's status as the "fastest growing population" in the Midwest, driven by the state's strong economy and its thriving private school voucher program. Huston emphasized that his bill offers an opportunity to showcase Indiana's successes and extend an invitation to others, saying, "We think we have a heck of a lot to offer."

But opponents argue that the bill is inherently divisive and that it is a distraction from the "real work."

"The grass is not always greener," Representative Chris Campbell previously said. "I'm not ready to disrupt the constitutions that we have created in our states and in our country. I think that this creates the great divide of the red and blue states. I don't like the message that it sends."

House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta added: "I think it's obviously going to be a super long shot that this will ever happen. And I think it's probably getting off of the real work that we have to do today."

The bill will now head to the state Senate. If it passes, there it will then need to be approved by both Illinois and Indiana before heading to the U.S. Congress. This makes the bill very unlikely to become law since Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, has said he will not sign off on the bill, which he has described as "a stunt" that is "not going to happen."

"I'll just say Indiana is a low-wage state that doesn't protect workers, a state that does not provide health care for people when they're in need, and so I don't think it's attractive for anybody in Illinois where wages are higher where the standard of living is higher, and we do provide health care for people in need," Pritzker said when asked about the bill.

The Illinois Attorney General also issued an opinion stating that counties cannot leave the state independently. This mirrors the ruling made by the United States Supreme Court in 1907 in Hunter v. Pittsburgh, where justices determined that counties "are political subdivisions of the state, created by it and always fully under its legislative control."

State-Switching Throughout History

Nonetheless, while there is a rigorous process in place to allow states to secede, state-switching has happened on a few notable occasions throughout American history, particularly during times of conflict or territorial adjustments. One of the most significant examples occurred in 1863 when West Virginia seceded from Virginia during the Civil War in order to remain loyal to the Union. Fifty counties from Virginia became part of the new state of West Virginia, though Berkeley and Jefferson counties initially stayed with Virginia before switching to West Virginia later that same year. This reshaping of state lines was a result of the political divisions caused by the war.

Another period of state-switching occurred during the 1860s when the "Lost Counties" of Tennessee and Kentucky saw some changes to their borders due to the political climate surrounding the Civil War. As tensions mounted between the Union and the Confederacy, certain areas were transferred from one state to another as part of the shifting allegiances and territorial disputes of the time.

In the 1830s, Dunklin County, Missouri, was another example of state-switching when it was originally part of the Arkansas Territory but was transferred to Missouri before the state was formally admitted to the Union. This border change was just one of many adjustments made as new states and territories were being formed in the early 19th century.

In the 1800s, the Red River Valley region saw a number of border adjustments between Minnesota and the Dakota Territory before North Dakota became a state. These changes were largely driven by territorial disputes as the United States expanded westward, with areas shifting between different territories and future states.

A final example of state-switching occurred in 1820 when Maine became a state. Prior to its statehood, all of Maine's counties were part of Massachusetts. When Maine separated from Massachusetts, it became its own state, a change that was part of the Missouri Compromise, which helped resolve tensions between free and slave states during the period.

What Happens Next

The bill will now head to Indiana's Senate. It is not clear when this will happen or when it will be voted on in Illinois. It is highly unlikely to pass due to opposition from lawmakers in Illinois.