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Tuesday, Jun 9, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From Rep. Marty McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills)…
State Representative Martin McLaughlin today announced new legislation currently being drafted, known as the TIPA (Taxpayer Investment Protection Act), aimed at providing a structured alternative to the current stadium development proposal involving the Chicago Bears.
This proposal is a business-driven approach designed to deliver certainty to the Chicago Bears organization while providing strong protections for taxpayers and the surrounding region. It seeks to restore clarity, accountability, and fiscal balance following recent legislative failures at the state level.
Representative McLaughlin noted that while he supported early-stage discussions of the original initiative, he believes the proposal requires further refinement to ensure taxpayer protections are fully in place while preserving a major regional economic development opportunity.
Protecting Taxpayers While Advancing Economic Growth
McLaughlin reaffirmed his commitment to fiscal responsibility, emphasizing that Illinois must carefully balance private investment incentives with protections for property taxpayers.
He stated that the overall development concept represents a potential $8 billion regional investment opportunity, with significant long-term economic impact if properly structured.
Structured Investment Framework
The legislation introduced by McLaughlin establishes clear financial benchmarks, including:
• Up to $2.5 billion in private investment from the Chicago Bears organization and development partners
• Approximately $1.2 billion in state-supported infrastructure investment, tied to defined project milestones
• Accountability provisions ensuring both public and private commitments are met
• Safeguards to protect taxpayers should investment thresholds not be achieved
The framework is intended to create measurable standards and reduce uncertainty for all parties involved.
Economic Development Vision
McLaughlin described the proposal as a disciplined, accountable approach that could unlock transformative regional development, comparable in scale to major entertainment districts such as Rosemont, while delivering broader statewide benefits.
He cautioned that failure to properly structure the agreement could jeopardize the opportunity altogether, stressing the importance of legislative precision and transparency.
Statement from Rep. McLaughlin
“This is about bringing structure and accountability back into the process,” McLaughlin said. “We have a chance to secure major private investment while protecting taxpayers—but only if we get the framework right from the beginning.”
He added, “We’ve seen what too many politicians in the room can do. Now let’s get some business leaders in the room and get this thing done for the benefit of all Chicago Bears fans. Illinois cannot afford to lose a major economic development opportunity.”
Representative McLaughlin was first elected to office in 2020 previously serving as Village President of Barrington Hills. He is a business owner and financial expert.
That infrastructure money is a significantly higher commitment than Democrats were willing to make.
Anyway, I won’t go on because I’m interested in your thoughts about this.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 8:49 am:
As a concept, a theory, sounds good.
That two and a half bill from the Bears and other “development partners” is dead as a kipper on a cracker.
I can hear the McCaskeys gettin’ the vapors way down here in southern Illinois.
- NormalRepublican - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 8:52 am:
It’s nice to see someone on the GOP side putting out a proposal of their own rather than just complaining.
- Benniefly2 - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 8:53 am:
Without specifics on how a proposed act would ‘protect property taxpayers’, it is impossible to evaluate. Allowing corporations to negotiate a fixed, reduced annual property tax amount that would be frozen for forty years certainly was a terrible idea in the previous house bill. If it is to be a negotiated, reduced tax, it should at a bare minimum be indexed to inflation and certainly not locked in for four decades.
- Pundent - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 8:54 am:
McLaughlin’s proposal makes no mention of taxes while claiming it’s designed to protect taxpayers. The Bears claim this won’t work without “property tax certainty” and McLaughlin ignores the topic completely?
It was always expected that the state would be footing the bill for some infrastructure. But $1.2B with no details or justification? That’s a whole lot of unexplained infrastructure. I guess it takes a businessman to come up with a plan short on details but with a massive price tag.
Saying no is looking better all the time.
- high level - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 8:55 am:
JB needs to get off the sidelines and get a deal done. Will forever be remembered as the Gov who lost the Bears.
- StarLineChicago - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 8:59 am:
For that price tag, we should have assurances that ten figures’ worth of public investment in vague “infrastructure” has year-round uses rather than just a couple dozen event days.
- Steve - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 9:00 am:
-JB needs to get off the sidelines and get a deal done.-
Actually JB is looking after the taxpayers here. The onus is on those looking to subsidize private, profitable businesses. NYC doesn’t have any teams playing in their city. L.A. didn’t for over 25 years. Life goes on.
- Steve - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 9:02 am:
Let me correct something here: NYC doesn’t have any NFL teams playing in their city.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 9:10 am:
“Will forever be remembered as the Gov who lost the Bears.”
Twenty years ago, maybe.
Tax money to billionaires’ pet projects aren’t really in vogue at the moment.
- Braceville Brad - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 9:15 am:
Just saying that these projects “create regional economic development” does not just make it true. When peer reviewed study after peer reviewed study shows the exact opposite….
- Indiana is a Football School - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 9:30 am:
If the entire project is 8 billion and there are ~9 home games a year for 40 years that is $ 22,000,000/per game. I could find something better to do with that money. Taylor Swift can still play Soldier Field. GO BEARS! GO STRAIGHT TO INDIANA!
- Casper the Ghost Bus - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 9:30 am:
What’s his roll call look like for this idea of a proposal for a draft?
- Steve - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 9:39 am:
Good luck to the Bears. They are going to need some new fans. Their Indiana location is even less convenient than Soldiers.
- ChrisB - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 9:39 am:
Can we add a stipulation that the Bears must maintain a .500 record over the life of the tax break?
- Soccermom - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 9:40 am:
Pop quiz: Name all the governors who allowed NFL teams to leave their states.
- Chicagonk - Tuesday, Jun 9, 26 @ 9:46 am:
I don’t understand why the infrastructure need is so high. Also, shouldn’t Arlington Heights issue bonds paid back by the property taxes on the mixed-used development portion?