SPRINGFIELD, IL — Illinois lawmakers passed a record $55.9 billion state budget after the Sunday deadline, but left Springfield without sending a Chicago Bears stadium deal to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk.
A last-ditch stadium bill aimed at keeping the Bears in Illinois cleared the Senate around 4 a.m. Monday, but the House adjourned without taking up the measure.
The outcome leaves the Bears’ stadium search unresolved, with the team still evaluating Arlington Heights and Hammond, Indiana.
“We will finalize our evaluation of both Arlington Heights and Hammond, and remain on the late spring/early summer timeline that we have previously communicated,” the Bears said in a statement shared with Patch. “We will provide an update when we have a decision to share.”
RELATED: Midnight Deadline Looms As Bears Stadium Bill Stalls In Springfield
The late Senate proposal came after an earlier Bears “megaprojects” property-tax incentive bill fell apart Saturday night when it became clear there was not enough support in the Senate. That earlier proposal would have allowed the team to negotiate a payment in lieu of property taxes tied to a potential Arlington Heights stadium development.
"By giving the Chicago Bears a modern venue that meets their long-term needs, we can help keep one of our state’s most treasured institutions rooted in Illinois while driving growth throughout the region," State Senator Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) said. "This proposal offers a unique opportunity to support economic growth while maintaining a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility. A new stadium and surrounding development can bring new jobs, attract investment and create lasting benefits for local businesses and residents, all while ensuring taxpayers are protected through a fair and balanced partnership."
The revised bill would have allowed certain Cook County municipalities to create local stadium authorities, according to NBC Chicago. The stadium would have to be publicly owned, while the Bears would be required to finance construction and then turn the building over to the municipal authority, which would lease it back.
The structure was designed to give the Bears the property-tax certainty they have sought without using state money to build the stadium. The bill also would have allowed long-term bonds for stadium construction, infrastructure and renovations.
The General Assembly did pass the broader state budget, which Pritzker’s office described as a $55.9 billion FY27 spending plan focused on affordability, financial stability and core state obligations.
“Every element of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year was thoroughly deliberated with the aim of achieving widespread affordability for all Illinoisans,” Pritzker said in a statement. “It builds upon seven years of fiscal discipline and efforts to make our state competitive in national and international industries.”
The $55.9 billion FY27 spending plan surpassed last year’s roughly $55.1 billion budget, which had been the largest in Illinois history.
The budget includes a six-month pause on the annual July 1 motor fuel tax increase, an August back-to-school sales tax holiday, nearly $100 million for food assistance and grocery access, housing affordability funding, K-12 education funding and medical debt relief funding, according to the governor’s office.
The Bears purchased the former Arlington International Racecourse property for $197.2 million in 2023 and later demolished the racetrack as part of plans for a proposed stadium development. The team has also been weighing a potential move to Hammond, where Indiana officials have offered incentives aimed at luring the franchise across the state line.
The failed stadium push came after weeks of pressure to settle the team’s Illinois future before the end of the spring session. Instead, the Bears remain without the legislative certainty they had sought in Illinois, while lawmakers head into the summer with the issue unresolved.
"As a lifelong Bears fan, I see the importance of sporting events that bring economic benefits to our communities," State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) said. "Professional sports stadiums and their surrounding areas provide spaces for neighbors to gather, ensure robust job opportunities and underpin our local economy. It was imperative that we continued to work to secure the future of the Chicago Bears in Illinois – and this bill does just that, without costing the state a single dollar to build the stadium."
Chicago has reemerged as a possible factor in the stadium discussion after months in which the Bears publicly focused on Arlington Heights and Hammond. The Bears have met repeatedly with Chicago officials over several months, according to State Sen. Bill Cunningham.
Patch previously reported Cunningham said the Bears contacted Chicago in late April about a possible return to lakefront stadium discussions if the Arlington Heights proposal did not move forward. At the time, Cunningham said the outreach had strengthened Mayor Brandon Johnson’s opposition to the megaproject legislation.
RELATED: Bears Contacted Chicago About Potential Lakefront Return
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