Read this morning’s Capitol News Insider newsletter for background.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: While the Indiana House approved a bill Tuesday aimed at luring the Chicago Bears over the state line, Gov. JB Pritzker signaled “broad agreement” on long-sought property tax legislation that would clear the way for the team to build a domed stadium in suburban Arlington Heights. Though it remains unclear if the bill moves this week in the Illinois House.
PRITZKER POSITIVE: The governor, asked Tuesday morning following an event in Chicago, said the state is having “really positive discussions” with the organization, predicting that “you’re going to see progress over time here.” The tone was far more optimistic than last week, when he said he was “surprised, dismayed and very disappointed” with a statement the team put out touting progress in Indiana while neglecting to mention Illinois.
GOV’S WORDS: “I’m a Chicago Bears fan (and) believe very much that they ought to be based in Illinois, and I’m going to do everything I can, without harming the taxpayers of the state of Illinois in the process, of making sure that we can do everything we can to keep them in the state.”
Pritzker also through some shade at Indiana over the hodgepodge of taxes that would help fund a publicly owned stadium in Hammond. “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… Do they want to raise their taxes to pay for a stadium? … We’ll see.”
INSIDE THE CAUCUS ROOM: The so-called megaprojects bill, which would freeze the Bears’ property taxes and allow them to negotiate a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes with local taxing bodies for up to 40 years, remains in the hands of the Illinois House.
The bill did not get discussed during a closed-door House Democratic caucus meeting Tuesday afternoon, said state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, one of the package’s lead negotiators. Buckner said he agreed with Pritzker that there’s “some very positive momentum” and “a lot of agreement,” but added that “there’s some nuance that we got to be able to work through.”
KEEP IN MIND: Chicago legislators need a reason to vote for legislation that makes it easier for the team to bolt the city for the suburbs as taxpayers are still on the hook for nearly a half-billion dollars for Soldier Field renovations. And some Democratic legislators want to ensure that the property tax break is narrow in scope – think the stadium itself and some ancillary features like a team hall of fame, but not the surrounding entertainment district or mixed-used district planned for the 326-acre site.
BUCKNER’S WORDS: “I’ve always said that this is a process that takes time, and I’m confident that we’re going to arrive at the best version of this. I don’t know when we get there and what exactly that looks like, but this is part of the work that we’re doing.”
WHAT’S NEXT: The bill is posted for a hearing in the House Revenue Committee on Thursday morning. It is not clear if it will be called. The House won’t be back in Springfield until March 18 once they adjourn that day.
