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EspañolLegislation in both Indiana and Illinois moved forward Thursday in a race to attract the Chicago Bears.
The team has not yet indicated which direction it intends to go regarding a new stadium, keeping fans and lawmakers on their toes.
Indiana governor signs Bears stadium bill
Indiana lawmakers passed a bill Feb. 26 outlining their financial package, and, within hours, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed the bill into law.
Indiana's Senate Bill 27, which lists the financial incentives and authority to build a stadium in northwest Indiana, passed the Senate by a 45-4 vote.
"We sure give the Bears a lot to think about to come here, because Indiana is the state it is," Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, said. "It's a very good time for Lake County."
Bears legislation moves to Illinois House
In Illinois, the House Revenue and Finance Committee passed a bill in a 13-7 vote that would lock in property tax rates at the site the Bears already own, the former Arlington Racetrack, in a bid to keep the Bears in-state. That bill still has a long way to go, however.
Illinois House Bill 910 failed to be taken up by House legislators before they adjourned their session, meaning it will not be discussed until they regroup in mid-March.
Megaproject bill gains opposition in Illinois
Not all Illinois leaders are on board with the bill, which would allow any megaproject involving an investment of $500 million or more to negotiate a freeze on its property tax assessment, according to CBS News.
While proponents say the bill is meant to attract large-scale development across the state, not just applying to the Bears, opponents have argued that the average taxpayer would be burdened by the bill.
"It would shift liability from megaproject developers directly onto homeowners, small businesses, creating a mechanism that could double or triple the effective property tax rates over the next few decades," said Brian Costin, deputy state director of the Illinois chapter of Americans for Prosperity, a Libertarian policy advocacy group.
Chicago city leaders also brought up the willingness of the state to spend on infrastructure for a new Bears stadium, as opposed to spending it on infrastructure elsewhere in the city.
What have the Bears said about the situation?
Regarding the signed legislation in Indiana, the Bears told IndyStar the state has taken "important steps."
"We are grateful for the leadership reflected by Governor Braun signing SB 27 establishing the framework for a stadium development in Northwest Indiana," the team said. "We continue to work on the necessary due diligence and appreciate the ongoing engagement with Indiana state and local leaders."
At the same time, the team acknowledged the progress achieved in Illinois.
"We recognize and appreciate the advancement of mega project legislation by the Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee, and we look forward to continued engagement as the lawmakers determine the legislative path forward," the team said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Chicago Bears move to Indiana? Here's the latest on lawmakers' plans