The Chicago Bears released a statement Thursday as lawmakers took a step closer to making a stadium in northwest Indiana closer to reality. The Indiana Senate already rapidly passed legislation setting the parameters for a deal with the Bears, including a bond issue, a lease with the team, and other agreements that a new board would make with the team, but questions remained over whether such legislation would make it through the House. A spokesperson for Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the pause in discussion was requested by the Bears. "Illinois was ready to move this bill forward. After a productive three hour meeting yesterday, the Bears leaders requested the ILGA pause the hearing to make further tweaks to the bill. This morning, we were surprised to see a statement lauding Indiana and ignoring Illinois," spokesman Matt Hill wrote on X. #chicagobears #jbpritzker