Indiana House Approves Bears Stadium Legislation, but Illinois Governor Optimistic Team Will Stay

Proposed Indiana taxes raise concerns, while Illinois negotiates property tax deal for Arlington Heights stadium

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Indiana House has passed legislation to create a stadium authority to fund a new stadium for the Chicago Bears in Hammond, Indiana. However, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has expressed skepticism about the proposed tax increases on Indiana residents to pay for the stadium, saying he's "very interested to see how the people of Indiana and the voters of Indiana feel about the massive increases in taxes that are being proposed." Meanwhile, Pritzker says he's optimistic the Bears will stay in Illinois amid ongoing talks about a deal for a new stadium in Arlington Heights.

Why it matters

The potential move of the Chicago Bears to Indiana has sparked a cross-border competition for the team, with both states offering incentives. This highlights the broader trend of professional sports teams leveraging the threat of relocation to extract public funding for new stadiums, which has become a contentious issue for taxpayers in many communities.

The details

The Indiana legislation would create a stadium authority to fund a new Bears stadium in Hammond, which would be paid for through a new 1% food and beverage tax in Lake and Porter counties, as well as a doubling of Lake County's hotel tax from 5% to 10%. However, Illinois Governor Pritzker has expressed skepticism about these proposed tax increases, saying Indiana residents may feel differently about footing the bill. Meanwhile, Pritzker says there is "broad agreement" about legislation that would allow the Bears to negotiate the amount they pay in property taxes for a potential new stadium in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

  • On Tuesday, the Indiana House gave enthusiastic approval to the legislation to create a stadium authority for a Bears stadium.
  • A committee hearing on the property tax legislation for a potential Arlington Heights stadium in Illinois has been scheduled for Thursday.

The players

JB Pritzker

The governor of Illinois, who has expressed optimism that the Bears will stay in Illinois amid ongoing negotiations about a new stadium deal in Arlington Heights.

Chicago Bears

The professional football team that is considering a move from Illinois to Indiana, and is negotiating with both states for a new stadium deal.

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What they’re saying

“I'm very interested to see how the people of Indiana and the voters of Indiana feel about the massive increases in taxes that are being proposed.”

— JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois (cbsnews.com)

“There is broad agreement about legislation that would allow the franchise to negotiate the amount it pays in property taxes to Arlington Heights.”

— JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

A committee hearing on the property tax legislation for a potential Arlington Heights stadium in Illinois has been scheduled for Thursday.

The takeaway

The competition between Illinois and Indiana to keep or attract the Chicago Bears highlights the ongoing debate over public funding for professional sports stadiums. While both states are offering incentives, the proposed tax increases in Indiana have raised concerns about the burden on taxpayers, underscoring the need for balanced deals that protect the interests of local communities.