Overview
- Senate sponsor Bill Cunningham said the megaprojects PILOT bill does not have the votes in the Senate as negotiators concentrate on finalizing a roughly $56 billion state budget before the session ends.
- Lawmakers are discussing narrower, Bears-only options or other mechanisms to give the team tax certainty for an Arlington Heights stadium if they cannot pass the broader megaprojects framework.
- Indiana has already approved more than $1 billion in incentives to lure the Bears to Hammond, increasing pressure on Illinois negotiators to move quickly to keep the team in-state.
- Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas estimated the PILOT structure could save the Bears about $39 million a year, and critics warn negotiated tax deals could shift costs to schools, homeowners, and other local services.
- If no agreement is reached by Sunday night, leaders could call a special session that raises the legislative vote threshold from a simple majority to three-fifths, making passage of any stadium measure much harder.