Bears Stadium Saga: Illinois and Indiana Compete as Legislative Action Stalls

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has said he does not want taxpayers to fund a proposed roughly $3 billion Chicago Bears stadium and wants the team to remain in Illinois, contrasting his position with that of a political opponent who has proposed taxpayer funding. Pritzker has said he is willing to call a special legislative session if the Bears present a concrete proposal with sufficient bipartisan support in the General Assembly, but state lawmakers have said the team must first specify its plans before any session is called. Pritzker has downplayed the seriousness of the team's discussions about relocating to Hammond, Indiana, noting the team has not finalized a site there and that one location under consideration involves toxic waste requiring remediation. In February 2026, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed SB 27, creating a legislative framework for a potential stadium development in Northwest Indiana aimed at attracting the Bears; the team called it an important step in its due diligence process. Indiana state senators from both parties expressed optimism about the effort, while Illinois lawmakers simultaneously debated competing stadium legislation amid concerns about protecting taxpayers. Pritzker indicated he hoped a legislative resolution could be reached before the state's fall veto session, originally targeted for November. By October 2025, House Speaker Chris Welch and Senate President Don Harmon signaled that a Bears stadium bill was not a priority for the six-day fall veto session, citing competing concerns including transit funding, energy policy, and federal immigration and law enforcement actions in the Chicago area. As of the most recent reporting in September 2026, no stadium deal, special session, or finalized relocation plan had been confirmed, and it remains unresolved whether the Bears will ultimately build in Illinois, move to Indiana, or pursue another site such as Arlington Heights.