Overview
- Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch said discussing state help for a new Bears stadium is "insensitive" when constituents are pressing lawmakers about prescription prices, insurance premiums, groceries and rent.
- The Bears have expanded their search to northwest Indiana after being told their Arlington Heights plan would not be a 2026 priority in Illinois.
- Indiana Governor Mike Braun signaled willingness to work with the team as northwest Indiana established a stadium authority to court a professional franchise.
- Team officials say they will invest more than $2 billion privately but seek about $855 million for roads, utilities and other infrastructure plus property tax certainty through a PILOT framework, which they call essential to proceed.
- Governor J.B. Pritzker opposes using state money for stadium construction but remains open to negotiating infrastructure and tax-stability measures after a megaproject bill stalled in the fall.