IL House Passes Bears Stadium Bill

The Illinois House voted 78-32 late Wednesday to advance a bill designed to help the Chicago Bears pursue a new stadium in Arlington Heights. (cbsnews.com) House Bill 910 now goes to the Illinois Senate after clearing the House Revenue and Finance Committee earlier in the day on a 15-5 vote. The measure would let qualifying “megaprojects” negotiate payments in lieu of standard property taxes with local governments. (cbsnews.com) For the Bears, the bill is aimed at the 326-acre former Arlington Park site in Arlington Heights that the team bought in February 2023. Team officials have said property-tax certainty is a condition for building a domed stadium there. (vah.com, nbcchicago.com) The vote comes as Illinois tries to keep the franchise from moving its stadium project to Northwest Indiana. Illinois lawmakers have been racing the spring session calendar while the Bears weigh sites on both sides of the state line. (chicago.suntimes.com, fox32chicago.com) The latest House version was broadened beyond the Bears after Republicans and taxpayer groups pushed for relief that would also benefit homeowners. Under the amendment described by lawmakers, part of the payments tied to a project would be routed into property-tax relief, with 60 percent for homeowners near the site and 40 percent for the state’s property tax relief fund. (nbcchicago.com, nprillinois.org) Supporters say the bill gives Illinois a way to compete for large developments without waiting for the Bears to pick Indiana. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office called the House vote “an important step” and said any final legislation must protect taxpayers. (chicago.suntimes.com) Critics say negotiated tax deals for a National Football League team could shift costs onto other taxpayers if local revenue falls short. Americans for Prosperity Illinois said it wants changes that would prevent “hundreds of millions of dollars” in burden from landing on surrounding communities. (nbcchicago.com) The Bears did not treat the House vote as a finished deal. After the bill moved, the team said it welcomed the progress but still wants additional changes before committing to Arlington Heights. (abc7chicago.com, nbcchicago.com) The next test is the Senate, where lead sponsor Bill Cunningham told NBC Chicago he felt no pressure to force a vote on a specific timetable. Until that chamber acts, the House vote is a significant step for Arlington Heights, not a final stadium agreement. (nbcchicago.com, wgntv.com)