House Bill 1008 from Republican House Speaker Todd Huston would create a commission to study how 33 Illinois counties could join Indiana.

The Indiana House passed the biennial budget, which received praise from Republicans and criticism from Democrats, on Thursday. The legislature is tasked with crafting a budget to cover state funding over the next two years.

In a video statement Thursday, Rokita called this "critical legislation" that is "great news for every law-abiding and tax-paying Hoosier."

Indiana’s House on Thursday easily approved its attempt at heading off anticipated transportation funding shortfalls — with provisions aimed mostly at boosting local fundraising.

The Indiana House passed its budget on Thursday and it now moves to the Senate for further consideration. The budget is supposed to cover funding for the next two years.

A bill aimed at redrawing the Indiana-Illinois border passed out of the Indiana House Thursday with the Speaker of the House suggesting that other Midwestern states join Indiana.

Indiana lawmakers debate immigration bill

House Republicans approved a bill Thursday to enhance Indiana’s role in enforcing federal immigration law. Rep. J.D. Prescott’s (R-Union City) bill would give the attorney general’s office more authority to investigate businesses that might be employing undocumented immigrants — and creates penalties for those that do.