Illinois House expected to vote on Bears stadium bill ahead of team's key meeting with league

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Illinois House Revenue Committee passed the megaprojects bill nearly two months ago in late February.

The bill would provide property tax certainty for the Chicago Bears if they build their new stadium in Arlington Heights. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has said he supports it. But the full House has yet to vote on it, and the clock is ticking.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The plans for a new Bears stadium and entertainment district have been out there for several years. But at this point, they remain just that: Plans, not actual construction. The Bears are presumably waiting on the passage of the megaprojects bill in the state legislature before deciding whether they build in Illinois or Hammond, Indiana.

"I think Indiana would love to have the Chicago Bears, but I don't think the owners of the Bears want to go to Indiana," said Democratic Illinois state Rep. LaShawn Ford, who represents the 8th District.

And the latest group to weigh in on the measure is the Illinois Federation of Teachers, which is concerned that the possibility of lower income taxes to benefit the Bears would hurt schools.

"This proposal would essentially siphon off revenue from property taxes that would otherwise have gone to our public schools," said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Johnson believes the Bears should remain in Chicago. He supported a plan for a new stadium across the parking lot from Soldier Field along the lakefront. But that plan has gone nowhere due to a lack of funding. But it is part of the holdup in Springfield from a number of Chicago Democrats, who refuse to support the Bears if they leave the city for the suburbs.

"We're looking for the same incentives offered to Arlington Heights to be offered to Chicago, so Chicago has a fair shot at keeping the Bears here," Ford said.

Ford admitted that it is a longshot that the Bears would reconsider staying in the city at this point. He says he does expect the bill to be called for a vote before the end of this week. Then, it would go to the state Senate, where it would also be hotly debated. So, there is still a long way to go. In the meantime, the Bears are scheduled to meet with the league next week to provide an update on their stadium search.