IL advances Bears bill, IN Gov. Braun signs stadium law as states work to lure team from Chicago

Both Illinois and Indiana advanced their respective bills in an effort to lure the Chicago Bears out of the city.

The House Public Finance Committee advanced the bill Thursday that would freeze property taxes for mega projects like a Bears stadium in Arlington Heights.

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But members of the Illinois House of Representatives adjourned without voting on the bill.

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They will not return to Springfield until March 18.

The state has thus far failed to commit to infrastructure improvements and property tax certainty.

An amendment from Chicago-area state Rep. Kam Buckner outlines tax breaks on infrastructure the state would provide to entice the Bears to build in Arlington Heights, where the McCaskey family already owns the old Arlington Racetrack.

Gov. JB Pritzker spoke about the battle over the Bears on MS NOW.

“I am not going to be shaken down, and I have set out some very clear guidelines. And my guidelines are we are not going to fleece the taxpayers of the state of Illinois. We are not going to let the Bears do that,” Pritzker said.

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The full House needs to approve the bill before Pritzker would sign it.

Arlington Heights residents and some Bears fans showed up in Springfield Thursday.

“The Bears belong in Illinois, period. George Stanley Halas would be turning over in his grave if he knew they would even get out of the city of Chicago let alone the state of Illinois,” Bears fan Marty Tadla said.

The revised mega-project bill was supposed to be heard last week, but got canceled at the last minute.

In Indiana, the state Senate passed a bill for a new Chicago Bears stadium, 45-4.

Gov. Mike Braun said on X Thursday afternoon he signed the bill.

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“We made it clear from the beginning that Indiana is open for business. I’m thrilled to sign Senate Bill 27 to create the framework to build a new world-class stadium in Northwest Indiana,” he said. “Now let’s get this across the goal line.”

The city of Chicago is still technically in the running to keep the Bears.