‘Moving in the right direction’: Tweaks being made to Bears legislation ahead of House vote

Lawmakers returned to Springfield Tuesday and put Bears stadium megaproject legislation on the docket for a possible vote in the House as soon as this week.

House Democrats met as a caucus behind closed doors for hours Tuesday afternoon to discuss changes to the bill, ahead of amended legislation going to committee before advancing to a full House vote.

While a formal amendment was still being drafted by state Rep. Kam Buckner — the Chicago Democrat leading legislative negotiations on a Bears stadium deal — it’s expected to include a property tax relief element seen as a way to get votes from still-skeptical legislators on both sides of the aisle. To entice city and downstate legislators, the amended bill is also expected to have new economic development tools that could be tapped for projects in Chicago and Springfield.

The so-called Payments in Lieu of Taxes financing mechanism outlined in the bill — which would allow the Bears and other big developers to negotiate property tax payments directly with local governments for up to 40 years — has lingered in Springfield for four years.

Bears brass have argued the tax break is necessary for their long-contemplated relocation to their 326-acre property in Arlington Heights. Without it, the team has threatened to cross state lines and build a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana instead.

With Democrats holding a 78-member supermajority in the 118-member Illinois House, the bill will only be called to the floor for a vote once it’s met Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s minimum 60-vote threshold that guarantees passage.

Various House committees met late Tuesday afternoon following the hourslong Democratic caucus meeting, but none publicly discussed the megaproject bill. Lawmakers did advance proposals for referendums on a so-called millionaire’s tax — adding a 3% tax on incomes over $1 million — and Welch’s plan to add redistricting guidelines on race to the state constitution, heading off potential changes to the federal Voting Rights Act.

Buckner told reporters after the caucus meeting that he plans to file an amendment to the megaproject bill that would be heard in committee Wednesday.

Arlington Heights Village Manager Randy Recklaus was monitoring Springfield developments from afar Tuesday, having been on the phone with the village’s lobbyists and Mayor Jim Tinaglia several times throughout the day.

“They’re not going to call it to the floor unless they’re pretty confident (they have the votes),” Recklaus said. “I don’t have a headcount, but all indications are that things are moving in the right direction. The right people are talking. The right people are involved. There’s last-minute tweaks being put in (the legislation), but we’re hearing generally good news from Springfield, and we’re standing ready to get to work.”

The House will recess on Thursday, and the Senate is back in session starting next Tuesday. Both chambers are concurrently in session starting May 5, and will adjourn the spring session May 31. But Gov. JB Pritzker, who supports the megaproject bill, has expressed hope for a vote before then.

Bears Chairman George McCaskey is expected to provide an update on the team’s stadium search to the NFL’s stadium committee April 29. Team President/CEO Kevin Warren has said the team’s decision on whether to build in either Arlington Heights or Northwest Indiana is expected late this spring or early summer.