Indiana just made a billion-dollar bet to pull one of the NFL’s oldest franchises across state lines. The Chicago Bears may be leaving Illinois for good, and the drama unfolding between two neighboring states is unlike anything pro football has ever seen.
On Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, the Indiana House passed SB 27 by a 95–4 vote. On Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, the Senate gave final approval by a 45–4 vote, and Gov. Mike Braun signed it into law the same day.
Keep reading to see how it all unfolded.
Indiana’s historic vote that shocked Illinois
On February 24, 2026, the Indiana House passed Senate Bill 27 by a stunning 95 to 4 vote, clearing the way for a $1 billion public investment in a brand new Chicago Bears stadium in Hammond, Indiana. The bill then moved directly to the Indiana Senate for a final vote.
The Indiana Senate also passed the measure, and Governor Mike Braun signed it into law within days of that House vote and approval. Indiana completed the entire legislative process within a single week before the state session closed. It was a breathtaking display of speed driven by one clear goal.
What Senate Bill 27 actually does
Senate Bill 27 creates the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, a new government body with the authority to issue bonds, acquire land, and finance the construction of a new NFL stadium. Under SB 27, the Bears would be the stadium tenant on a 35-year lease; the bill and public summaries do not explicitly spell out complete revenue retention for the team.
Indiana would own the stadium outright once construction is complete and all payments are settled. Once the bonds are fully paid off, the state would sell the building to the Bears for just one dollar. The Bears could also buy the facility earlier by retiring the outstanding bond debt.
The Wolf Lake site: What we know
Wolf Lake in Hammond straddles the Illinois and Indiana state line along busy Interstate 90. The lake sits just 19 miles from downtown Chicago, which is actually shorter than the Bears’ proposed site in Arlington Heights. The current area includes a golf course, a driving range, and a concert pavilion.
Site surveyors and drilling crews were spotted working the property on behalf of the Bears weeks before the bill even passed. The exact parcel under review runs along 129th Street near Calumet Avenue in Hammond. No official renderings have been released, but the Bears called the Indiana legislation the most meaningful step forward.
How Indiana plans to pay the bill
SB 27 authorizes 40-year construction bonds to be repaid from a 12% ticket tax on stadium events, potential county-wide 1% food and beverage taxes in Lake and Porter counties, and an increase in Lake County’s innkeeper (hotel) tax from 5% to 10%, subject to local adoption.
The Bears are committing a full $2 billion of their own private money toward total construction costs while Indiana covers around $1 billion in public construction bonds. The admissions tax alone is projected to generate roughly $12 to $18 million annually once the new stadium begins hosting NFL games and major events.
The Bears’ long and frustrating stadium search
The Bears have called Soldier Field home since 1971, but it is the smallest stadium in the entire NFL with just 61,500 seats. The franchise has previously explored Arlington Heights, a downtown lakefront site, and even Gary, Indiana, before finally zeroing in on Hammond as the current clear leading choice.
Bears President Kevin Warren published a public letter in December 2025 expressing deep frustration with Illinois lawmakers very publicly. He wrote that the team had received no real legislative partnership despite acting in good faith for years. Shortly after that letter, the Bears expanded their stadium search into northwest Indiana.
Fun fact: Before moving to Soldier Field, the Chicago Bears spent nearly 50 years playing their home games at Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs.
Illinois fights back with a rival bill
The Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee passed House Bill 910 by a 13–7 vote. HB 910 would allow “megaprojects” like a Bears stadium in Arlington Heights to freeze their property tax assessment and negotiate payments-in-lieu-of-taxes for up to 40 years. The bill also requires the team to make special annual payments directly to local governments in exchange.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker publicly said he remained very optimistic the Bears would stay in his state. He pointed to ongoing property tax talks as nearly complete and moving in a positive direction. However, a key Illinois committee hearing tied to the Bears was canceled hours after Indiana’s bill advanced.
What Hammond brings to the table
Hammond is the largest city in Lake County with around 78,000 residents, and it directly borders the city of Chicago. The city is a 30-minute drive from the Chicago Loop via Interstate 90. Commuter rail through the South Shore Line connects northwest Indiana directly to downtown Chicago for commuters.
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. has publicly and enthusiastically supported the Bears stadium proposal and testified in favor of it before Indiana lawmakers. He told Indiana lawmakers that Hammond was ready to be a complete and committed partner. His passionate testimony before the House committee drew wide attention and strong crowd applause.
Fun fact: The Hammond Pros were founded in 1917 and became a charter member of the NFL in 1920, the same founding year as the league itself.
The Bears have not committed yet
Indiana lawmakers confirmed they received a verbal commitment from the Bears to invest $2 billion toward a Hammond stadium, but no formal written deal has yet been signed by either party. The Bears also still hold their current Soldier Field lease through 2033 and must negotiate an exit from it.
The Bears called Indiana’s bill the most meaningful step forward in their entire stadium planning effort to date. They also noted they were fully committed to finishing site due diligence before making any final decisions. That careful language still left the door open for Illinois to make a strong counteroffer.
TL;DR
- The Indiana House passed Senate Bill 27 by a 95 to 4 vote, approving up to $1 billion in public funding for a potential Chicago Bears stadium in Hammond, Indiana.
- Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed the bill into law within days after the Senate also approved it.
- The proposed site near Wolf Lake in Hammond is 19 miles from downtown Chicago and sits right on the Illinois-Indiana state line.
- Indiana will fund its share through game ticket taxes, food and beverage taxes, and a doubled hotel tax in Lake County.
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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