Trending Now - Illinois Lawmakers Present Updated Bill for Bears' Stadium Plans

WHO:

Block Club Chicago - State Rep. Kam Buckner stated, “I got some marching orders from my caucus to put together an amendment that looked more like what was important to us.”

Chicago Tribune - Scott Hagel, a spokesperson for the Bears, said the team welcomes “the progress made on the House’s version of the (megaproject) bill; however, additional amendments are necessary to make the Arlington Heights site feasible for our stadium project.”

Block Club Chicago - Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, is the lead House negotiator on the megaprojects bill.

ABC7 Chicago - The Illinois Federation of Teachers is lobbying for language in the bill.

WHAT:

NBC Sports - The Illinois House's bill allows the Bears to negotiate payments in lieu of taxes, which would enable them to skip traditional property taxes.

Block Club Chicago - The bill includes a provision that prohibits the use of the PILOT tool for data centers.

Block Club Chicago - The bill includes a sliding scale for the length of agreements based on minimum investments, with those investing over $1 billion entering into agreements for at least 40 years.

Block Club Chicago - The Illinois House's latest amendment to the megaprojects bill includes a provision that explicitly prohibits the use of the PILOT tool for data centers.

Block Club Chicago - The new bill includes a sliding scale for the length of agreements based on minimum investments, with those investing over $1 billion entering into agreements for at least 40 years.

NBC Sports - The Illinois House passed the bill creating a property-tax incentive for the Bears to build their new venue in Arlington Heights with a vote of 78-32.

Chicago Tribune - The bill is 376 pages long, expanded from an initial 38 pages, and is seen as necessary to persuade the Bears to remain in Illinois.

Chicago Tribune - The Illinois House passed the latest proposal to help the Chicago Bears build a new stadium in Arlington Heights with a vote of 78-32 on April 22nd, 2026.

ABC7 Chicago - The bill is aimed at providing tax breaks for large construction projects to entice the Bears to build in Arlington Heights.

Chicago Tribune - The bill passed after clearing the Illinois House’s Revenue and Finance Committee by a 15-5 vote on April 22nd, 2026.

Chicago Tribune - The legislation includes a provision that requires municipalities hosting megaprojects to deposit half of the negotiated special payment into a locally held property tax relief fund.

Block Club Chicago - The Illinois House unveiled a new version of a bill aimed at incentivizing the Chicago Bears to build a domed stadium in Arlington Heights.

Block Club Chicago - The bill allows the Bears and other “megaproject” developers to negotiate payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) with local taxing bodies.

Block Club Chicago - The latest amendment ensures that 50% of PILOT dollars would go toward property tax relief.

ABC7 Chicago - The Bears have owned the former Arlington Park racetrack site for over three years but have not yet begun construction.

WHERE:

Block Club Chicago - The proposed new stadium is to be located in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

ABC7 Chicago - The Bears are considering moving to Hammond, Indiana, where lawmakers have approved an incentive deal.

WHEN:

ABC7 Chicago - State Rep. Kam Buckner indicated that the full House could vote on the measure during the week of April 23rd, 2026.

ABC7 Chicago - State Rep. Kam Buckner stated that the full House could vote on the measure during the week of April 23rd, 2026.

Block Club Chicago - The Illinois Senate returns to Springfield on April 28th, 2026.

Block Club Chicago - The full House could vote on the measure during the week of April 23rd, 2026.

ABC7 Chicago - State Rep. Kam Buckner left the Capitol at 3 a.m. and returned at 6:30 a.m. on April 23rd, 2026.

WHY:

ABC7 Chicago - The latest changes to the bill are aimed at winning over lawmakers concerned about the long-term impact on regular taxpayers.

Block Club Chicago - The latest changes to the bill are aimed at winning over skeptical lawmakers concerned about the long-term impact on regular taxpayers.

Chicago Tribune - The bill is intended to prevent the Bears from relocating to Indiana, where lawmakers have already approved an incentive deal for the team.

Block Club Chicago - The bill is aimed at preventing the Chicago Bears from relocating to Indiana.

Block Club Chicago - Concerns from lawmakers include the potential shift of property tax burden to surrounding residents and the long-term impact on revenues to local communities.

HOW:

Block Club Chicago - The bill requires municipalities with PILOT agreements to provide impact reports to the Illinois General Assembly every five years.

Chicago Tribune - The new bill includes a sliding scale for the length of agreements based on minimum investments, with those investing over $1 billion, like the Bears, entering into agreements for at least 40 years.

Block Club Chicago - The bill includes a provision that allows the Bears or other developers to negotiate PILOT agreements, with 60% of the PILOT receipts going to property tax rebates for residential homeowners.

Block Club Chicago - The bill ends the megaproject incentive after five years, requiring municipalities with PILOT agreements to provide impact reports to the Illinois General Assembly every five years.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 21:15 UTC)

The Illinois House is set to vote on a bill this week that would allow the Bears to negotiate payments in lieu of taxes, potentially exempting them from traditional property taxes, but additional amendments are needed to make the Arlington Heights site feasible for their stadium project. State Rep. Kam Buckner mentioned he received directives from his caucus to draft an amendment that reflects their priorities, while the bill also includes provisions that prevent the use of the PILOT tool for data centers and establishes a sliding scale for agreement lengths based on investment amounts. To ensure accountability, municipalities with PILOT agreements will be required to submit impact reports to the Illinois General Assembly every five years.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 17:25 UTC)

The Illinois House has passed a significant bill aimed at creating a property-tax incentive for the Bears to build their new venue in Arlington Heights, with a vote of 78 to 32. This extensive 376-page legislation includes a provision that prohibits the use of the PILOT tool for data centers and establishes a sliding scale for agreements based on minimum investments, particularly for those exceeding $1 billion, which would lock in commitments for at least 40 years. State Rep. Kam Buckner mentioned that the full House could vote on this measure during the week of on Thursday, as lawmakers seek to address concerns about the long-term impact on taxpayers.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 05:45 UTC)

on Wednesday, the Illinois House passed a proposal aimed at helping the Chicago Bears build a new stadium in Arlington Heights, with a vote of 78 to 32. This legislation is designed to provide tax breaks for large construction projects and includes a requirement for municipalities hosting megaprojects to allocate half of the negotiated special payment into a local property tax relief fund. The bill also features a sliding scale for agreement lengths based on minimum investments, ensuring that projects over $1 billion, like the Bears' stadium, are tied to agreements lasting at least 40 years.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 04:06 UTC)

The Illinois House has unveiled a new version of a bill aimed at incentivizing the Chicago Bears to build a domed stadium in Arlington Heights, with Rep. Kam Buckner serving as the lead negotiator. This bill allows the Bears and other developers to negotiate payments in lieu of taxes, ensuring that 50% of those funds would go toward property tax relief, while also addressing concerns about the potential shift of tax burdens to local residents. The full House could vote on this measure during the week of on Thursday, and the Illinois Senate is set to return to Springfield April 28th.