Chicago’s Mayor, Brandon Johnson, embarked on a mission to Springfield on Wednesday, engaging with legislators to advocate for several key revenue initiatives on his agenda.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
Among Johnson’s priorities is a compelling effort to ensure the Chicago Bears remain in the city.
This campaign coincides with legislative discussions about a proposal that could facilitate the Bears’ relocation to Arlington Heights.
The collaborative revenue strategy, developed alongside other city leaders, aims to persuade state legislators not to reduce the share of state income tax allocated to local governments.
Simultaneously, Johnson faces a challenging task in attempting to keep the Bears at Soldier Field and prevent their departure.
In an effort to gather support, Johnson organized a breakfast meeting with members of the Chicago delegation. His goal was to garner backing for various progressive revenue measures, including a proposed tax on digital advertising.
He was joined by several progressive city council members to help make his case as the legislature heads into the final weeks of this session.
“I think there’s plenty of time. I mean, the revenue part is going to be part of the budget package. And we are, you know, we’re well into the process, but there is plenty of room to move on this. So, I think his visit is well timed,” State Sen. Robert Martwick said.
As for the Bears, the push continues even though the team has made it clear they are only considering Arlington Heights or Hammond, Indiana.
“As a Chicago legislator, I want to see the Bears stay in Chicago, but we can’t force the Bears to play where they don’t want to play. And given the option between Arlington Heights and Hammond, and I would prefer the Bears play in Arlington Heights,” State Sen. Bill Cunningham said.
The senate is working on changes to a “mega projects bill” that would provide tax breaks for the Bears and clear the way for them to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights.
It included some broader property tax relief for homeowners, but a hypothetical analysis by the governor’s office said it would have a negligible impact.
“So, we need to be having conversations about how that bill can be improved to make sure that that happens, and if not, then maybe it’s not the right time to get it,” State Sen. Karina Villa said.
Mayor Johnson also met with House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch and is not giving up hope of keeping the Bears in Chicago.
“The reason why the Bears did not proceed with the plans in Chicago is because we didn’t get any cooperation from the State of Illinois. Now, the State of Illinois is saying that they’re willing to cooperate. So, let’s take that level of cooperation that’s being applied to the suburbs that was not applied to the city of Chicago,” Johnson said.
Illinois lawmakers’ spring session ends on May 31.
The Bears have said they plan to share an update on their new stadium plans by late spring or early summer.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
