Illinois Legislative Setback Delays Chicago Bears Stadium Plans

On June 1, 2026 Illinois House adjourned before 5 a.m., stopping the Municipal Stadium Authority Act. The bill would have given the Bears a venue exempt from property taxes. Speaker Welch ruled out a session, shifting the vote to November, which requires a super-majority.

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The Bears began a stadium search in 2021, eyeing the 326-acre Arlington Park site. They bought the land for $197.2 million in February 2023 and pledged $2 billion. After weighing Chicago and a Hammond, Indiana site, they narrowed options to Arlington Heights and Hammond. Authority bill passed Senate in spring 2026 but stalled House on June 1; next vote November.

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Bears chairman George McCaskey, CEO Kevin Warren, House Speaker Chris Welch, Rep. Kam Buckner, Governor J.B. Pritzker and NFL officials back the Arlington Heights plan. Indiana approved a bond-backed subsidy for a Hammond stadium. The stalled Illinois bill would have mirrored Indiana’s model, granting revenue rights and tax exemption. A prior P.I.L.O.T. proposal sought a 40-year tax freeze for community payments.

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The stadium decision will shape the Bears’ franchise for decades, affect regional tax revenue, and determine mixed-use development on the Arlington Heights site. A Hammond location raises environmental and safety concerns, while the Soldier Field lease runs through 2033 with a penalty for early exit.

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Speaker Welch said process is careful; Rep. Buckner said goal is a solution that satisfies Bears, taxpayers and General Assembly. Bears leaders reaffirmed a late-spring timeline. Chicago officials, including Treasurer Maria Pappas, questioned Hammond proposal’s economic benefits and flagged environmental risks.

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The sources do not disclose the House vote count or the exact super-majority threshold required in November.

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• “Our caucus is used to processes,” Welch said. “Our caucus is used to taking our time and getting it right. And it’s proven over the last five years, five-and-a-half years now, that those processes work. So we’ll get it right. We’ll get it done.” — Chris Welch, House Speaker, Illinois House of Representatives

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• “We all share the same goal: finding a solution that works for the Bears, works for taxpayers, and earns the confidence of the General Assembly,” — Kam Buckner, Illinois State Representative

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• “I have George Halas’ blood coursing through my veins. So the family is risk-averse, debt-averse. But we feel this is a necessary step to secure the Bears’ future.” — George McCaskey, Chairman, Chicago Bears

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• “As George has mentioned, this will impact our franchise for decades to come. So this is not ‘Where do you move training camp to?’ This is a decision that will have ramifications for 30, 40, 50 years. So you want to make sure you get it right.” — Kevin Warren, President & CEO, Chicago Bears

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The Bears will keep evaluating Arlington Heights and Hammond as the November veto session nears. If the authority act passes, development proceeds; if not, talks with Indiana may intensify, potentially moving the franchise out of Illinois.

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