06/02/2026
Some reality from my legislative partner Dan Ugaste in the House regarding “the Bears bill.” Republican votes in the House could have finalized a path forward for the Bears.
Speaker Chris Welch will always fall back to his unconstitutional “60 vote rule” when it’s politically expedient to pacify his fractured caucus, and to protect his fragile leadership position;
UGASTE: “THERE IS A CLEAR WINNING PATH ON THE BEARS STADIUM. PUT IT ON THE BOARD.”
SPRINGFIELD – State Representative Dan Ugaste says lawmakers are overcomplicating what should be a straightforward agreement to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois while delivering meaningful long-term property tax reform for taxpayers statewide.
Ugaste said there is a simple path forward that would likely receive support from a majority of Republican legislators in the General Assembly.
“This does not need to become a massive, complicated legislative package filled with unrelated projects and gimmicks,” said Ugaste. “There is a practical, commonsense path that creates winners across the board.”
Under the framework outlined by Ugaste:
• The Bears receive the long-term property tax certainty needed to finance the project.
• The Bears would still pay what would likely remain the highest property tax bill for a stadium anywhere in Illinois — and likely the nation.
• Local taxpayers would be protected by eliminating the ability for unachieved projected tax revenue from the development to be shifted onto surrounding homeowners and businesses.
• The state would provide needed infrastructure improvements using existing transportation funds already intended for projects like this.
• Property taxpayers statewide would finally receive meaningful reforms by ending “back-door referendums” and requiring property tax referendum questions to appear only on November ballots where voter participation is highest.
Ugaste said the proposal creates a rare opportunity where every stakeholder benefits.
“The Bears win because they get certainty. The local school district wins because it gains additional tax revenue without adding students. Local taxpayers win because they are protected. Property taxpayers across Illinois win because they finally get long-overdue reforms. And the state wins with a privately funded $3 billion to $5 billion world-class stadium complex that will bring major events and economic activity to Chicagoland for decades,” Ugaste said.
“There are no losers in this scenario. Put it on the board. It passes.”
