Indiana Speaker of the House Todd Huston wants to start a dialogue with his neighboring state. 

On Tuesday, the Speaker announced he wants to create the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission, which would discuss ways to essentially expand Indiana’s borders and take over Illinois counties that “want to join low-tax, low-cost Indiana.”

Huston specifically referenced certain counties in Illinois voting to consider seceding from Illinois and Chicago in recent years. Seven counties voted for proposals like these in 2024.

“Instead of seceding and creating a 51st state, they should just join us,” Huston said.

Huston told reporters Tuesday that Illinois lawmakers would need to pass a similar proposal to actually start this conversation, and the political prospects for that idea are slim to none, to say the least. 

Several lawmakers who represent areas on the eastern border of Illinois did not return requests for comment on the proposal, and a spokesperson for the governor also did not respond.