Illinois House Passes Megaprojects Bill for Bears Stadium, but Team Still Wants Changes

The Illinois House on Wednesday approved a major economic development bill that would clear the path for the Chicago Bears to build a new domed stadium in Arlington Heights.

The measure passed 78-32 and is ostensibly a step toward keeping the team from bolting for Indiana, where Hoosier lawmakers have tried to lure the NFL franchise with the promise of more than $1 billion in public subsidies to build a stadium in Hammond.

House Republican Floor Leader Patrick Windhorst asked during floor debate if the Bears would stay in Illinois if the bill passes. Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, the bill's chief sponsor, responded that the bill puts together the mechanism that makes it possible for the Bears to stay in the state.

The team said in a statement after the vote they welcome the progress, but additional amendments are necessary to make the Arlington Heights site feasible for their stadium project.

The 377-page measure being debated was about 10 times the length of a version a House committee passed in February.

The bill would allow the Bears or other megaproject developers to negotiate a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, with local taxing bodies.

Developments would qualify for megaproject status with an investment of at least $100 million. Projects at that level could lock in property tax payments for up to 25 years. A second tier, for investments of at least $500 million, would allow a 30-year agreement. A third tier, for investments of at least $1 billion like the Bears proposal, would allow a 40-year agreement.

Megaprojects would also qualify for a sales tax exemption on building materials under the state's existing High Impact Business Program.

The bill includes a requirement that half of any special payments made by the team would go to the state and local homeowners for property tax relief. That money would come out of payments made to local schools and other governmental units.

State Sen. Mark Walker, a Democrat from Arlington Heights, said he needs to read the new legislation but from what he knows, the bill's contents were a little bit surprising. He said he understands that Rep. Buckner faced challenges with the legislation and needed to respond to concerns from his caucus.

State Sen. Robert Peters, a Chicago Democrat whose district includes Soldier Field, indicated his openness to a provision of the bill that could spur economic development around railroad tracks if it were to bring in affordable housing. But his focus is ensuring that Soldier Field maintains being a premier entertainment venue.

Gov. JB Pritzker said there's a need for speed in the negotiations on the legislation, that the Senate has work to do and there will be amendments, no doubt about it.

The NFL has a meeting next week to discuss the Bears stadium situation. Pritzker said if there is not true progress that gets made, if it isn't obvious to people that the Senate is moving in the right direction, I think that will make it challenging.

The team appears to be getting pressure from the NFL to decide. The league's stadium committee comprised of owners is slated to meet April 29 to discuss the Bears stadium situation.

The bill says Illinois is not going to sit back and watch other states build the future while we argue over yesterday's tools. It gives us the chance to compete and not compete recklessly, not compete desperately, not compete by giving away the store. It says we can compete with standards. We can grow with guardrails. We can welcome private investment and still demand public benefit.