Illinois State House Set to Vote on Property Tax Stability Bill for Chicago Bears’ Arlington Heights Stadium Project

The Illinois House Revenue Committee advanced the “megaprojects bill” nearly two months ago, marking a significant legislative step in late February.

This week, the bill is set to face a pivotal moment as it heads to the Illinois House for a vote on Wednesday. This decision could play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Chicago Bears.

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“More discussions are necessary, but our goal and hope is to reach a point where action can be taken tomorrow,” stated State Representative Kam Buckner on Tuesday.

The bill aims to offer property tax certainty for the Bears if they proceed with building a new stadium in Arlington Heights. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has expressed his support for the measure. However, a full House vote is still pending, and time is running out.

For several years, there have been plans for a new Bears stadium and an accompanying entertainment district, but these remain just plans at this stage, with no construction having begun.

Illinois lawmakers are racing to get this deal done to keep the team in the state as the Bears consider more than 300 acres of property in northwest Indiana, where lawmakers there already approved an incentive deal for the team.

The Bears are presumably waiting on the passage of the megaprojects bill in the state legislature before deciding whether they build in Arlington Heights or Hammond.

“I think Indiana would love to have the Chicago Bears, but I don’t think the owners of the Bears want to go to Indiana,” said state Rep. LaShawn Ford, who represents the 8th District.

Sources say the Illinois Federation of Teachers are lobbying for language that would guarantee big developments won’t drain school funds. The fear is that a tax freeze for the wealthy could impact the bill for homeowners.

An internal IFT memo sent on behalf of Stacy Davis Gates shows labor organization leaders have “concerns with the megaprojects language as currently filed” that include risks to operational school funding. The labor organization noted in the memo that they “have not yet taken a final or declarative position on the bill.”

“This proposal would essentially siphon off revenue from property taxes that would otherwise have gone to our public schools,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “I don’t think it’s a mismatch for educators to be involved in legislation that would have impact on our students.”

At the same time, lawmakers are also considering a separate proposal to tax millionaires that could supplement school funding.

Meanwhile, Johnson believes the Bears should remain in Chicago. He supported a plan for a new stadium across the parking lot from Soldier Field along the lakefront. But that plan has gone nowhere due to a lack of funding.

There is also holdup regarding the megaprojects bill in Springfield from a number of Chicago Democrats who refuse to support the Bears if they leave the city for the suburbs.

“It’s just not good for Chicago. I think everyone knows the Bears belong in Chicago. They’ll get more bang for their buck in a market like Chicago,” Ford said. “We’re looking for the same incentives offered to Arlington Heights to be offered to Chicago, so Chicago has a fair shot at keeping the Bears here.”

Ford admitted that it is a longshot that the Bears would reconsider staying in the city at this point. He says expects the bill to be called for a vote this week.

Then, it would go to the state Senate, where it would also be hotly debated. So, there is still a long way to go. In the meantime, the Bears are scheduled to meet with the league next week to provide an update on their stadium search.