Overview
- House lawmakers approved SB 27 by a 95–4 vote to create a Northwest Indiana stadium authority empowered to finance, build and lease a Hammond venue for the Bears.
- The plan relies on roughly $1 billion from targeted taxes, including a new 1% food and beverage surcharge in Lake and Porter counties, a Lake County hotel tax increase from 5% to 10%, and a 12% admissions tax.
- The measure still requires county-level tax approvals, Senate concurrence on House changes, and the governor’s signature before any deal can proceed.
- Indiana leaders say the Bears have pledged about $2 billion toward construction, though no formal contract has been signed and the team continues site evaluations at Wolf Lake.
- Gov. J.B. Pritzker criticized the proposed Indiana tax hikes and said talks in Illinois focus on a property-tax certainty bill and state-backed infrastructure, with the Bears seeking $855 million for roads, utilities and related work.