Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4152

LRB104 15219 BDA 28368 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4152

Introduced 10/15/2025, by Rep. Kam Buckner

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
50 ILCS 20/23.7 new
65 ILCS 5/11-68-8 new
70 ILCS 3205/23 new
70 ILCS 3210/110 new

Creates the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act. Prohibits a State or local authority from entering into, amending, or renewing any agreement granting subsidies, tax abatements, or financial incentives for the construction, renovation, or operation of a professional sports stadium unless the full text of the agreement is posted online for free public viewing at least 30 days before the agreement is entered into, amended, or renewed. Requires the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability to prepare a report containing a neutral cost-benefit analysis of the agreement and requires the franchise that is a party to the agreement to pay all costs associated with producing the report. Requires the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability to post the report online for free public viewing at least 30 days before the agreement is entered into, amended, or renewed. Requires at least 2 public hearings in the affected community. Requires the franchise to reimburse public schools, public libraries, or public fire, police, or emergency services for any net loss of funding that results from the reduction of property tax revenue under the stadium agreement. Requires any franchise that receives subsidies under a stadium agreement to annually post reports online regarding the number of jobs created, tax revenue generated, and community benefits delivered as a result of the agreement. Requires the subsidies to be repaid with interest if the franchise relocates or fails to meet certain commitments. Requires the Attorney General to enforce the Act. Declares the purpose of the Act. Defines terms. Amends the Public Building Commission Act, the Illinois Municipal Code, the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act, and the Downstate Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act. Provides that, to the extent that any provision of the Acts conflicts with the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act, the provisions of the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act shall control.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to ensure that any taxpayer-supported deal for a professional sports stadium in Illinois is transparent, fiscally responsible, and publicly vetted and to ensure that taxpayers, schools, and local services are protected from hidden costs.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Franchise" means a professional sports team or the owner of a professional sports team.

"Professional sports stadium" means a stadium, arena, or other structure or set of structures for the holding of (i) athletic contests or events, including, without limitation, baseball, football, hockey, or automobile racing; (ii) musical events, dramatic events, or other artistic events; or (iii) social events, public meetings, or other public events. "Professional sports stadium" includes practice fields or other areas where a professional sports team may practice or perform. "Professional sports stadium" also includes the following types of property if that property is directly related to a stadium, arena, or other structure or set of structures for the holding of athletic contests or events, musical events, dramatic events, other artistic events, social events, public meetings, or other public events: (i) offices, parking lots and garages, landscaping and open spaces, access roads, transportation facilities, restaurants, and stores; (ii) other recreation areas; (iii) other property or structures, including all fixtures, furnishings, and appurtenances normally associated with such facilities.

"Professional sports team" includes any National Football League (NFL) team, any Major League Baseball (MLB) team, any National Basketball Association (NBA) team, any National Hockey League (NHL) team, any Major League Soccer (MLS) team, or any other major league professional sports team. "Professional sports team" does not include any Minor League Baseball team, any American Association of Professional Baseball team, any Frontier League Baseball team, any Prospect League Baseball team, any American Hockey League team, any Southern Professional Hockey League team, any National Basketball Association G League (NBA G League) team, or any other minor league or semiprofessional sports team.

"Stadium agreement" means an agreement that is between a State or local authority and a franchise; that grants subsidies, tax abatements, or financial incentives for the construction, renovation, or operation of a professional sports stadium; that requires more than $25,000,000 in total public cost; and that is executed after the effective date of this Act.

"State or local authority" means the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, the Downstate Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, a public building commission, a State agency, a unit of local government, or a school district. "State or local authority" includes a governmental owner as defined in the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act.

"Unit of local government" has the meaning given to that term in Section 1 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.

Section 15. Full agreement disclosure. No State or local authority may enter into, amend, or renew a stadium agreement unless the full text of the stadium agreement is posted on its website for free public viewing for at least 30 days before the stadium agreement is entered into, amended, or renewed by the State or local authority.

Section 20. Independent economic analysis. At least 30 days before a stadium agreement is entered into, amended, or renewed, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shall prepare and post on its website for free public viewing a report containing a neutral cost-benefit analysis of the stadium agreement. The cost of producing the report shall be paid for by the franchise that is a party to the stadium agreement. The analysis contained within the report must evaluate the 20-year fiscal impact of the stadium agreement, including the impact of the stadium agreement on tax revenues, infrastructure costs, and local service demands.

Section 25. Public hearings.

(a) A State or local authority shall hold no fewer than 2 public hearings in the affected community at least 30 days before the State or local authority enters into, amends, or renews a stadium agreement.

(b) At the public hearings under this Section, school districts, libraries, and public safety agencies must be invited to testify regarding revenue impacts of the proposed stadium agreement.

Section 30. No net loss for schools and services. If a stadium agreement reduces property tax revenues through abatements or assessment freezes, the franchise must reimburse public schools, public libraries, or public fire, police, or emergency services for any loss of funding that results from the reduction of property tax revenue under the stadium agreement.

Section 35. Clawback provisions. If a franchise relocates or fails to meet community or economic commitments set forth in a stadium agreement, the franchise must repay in full all subsidies awarded to the franchise under the stadium agreement with the greater of (i) interest of 5% compounded annually from the earliest of the date of breach of the stadium agreement by the franchise, the date of relocation of the franchise, or the date of failure by the franchise to meet community or economic commitments set forth in the stadium agreement or (ii) interest as set forth in the stadium agreement.

Section 40. Annual public reporting. Any franchise receiving subsidies under a stadium agreement must post on its website annual reports on (i) the number of jobs created, specifying any full-time or temporary jobs created; (ii) the tax revenue generated; and (iii) the community benefits delivered. The franchise shall post these reports on its website for free public viewing.

Section 45. Enforcement.

(a) The Attorney General shall enforce the provisions of this Act.

(b) The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability may audit any State or local authority for compliance with this Act.

Section 70. The Public Building Commission Act is amended by adding Section 23.7 as follows:

(50 ILCS 20/23.7 new)

Sec. 23.7. Conflicts with the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act. In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Act and the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act, the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act shall control notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act.

Section 75. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by adding Section 11-68-8 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/11-68-8 new)

Sec. 11-68-8. Conflicts with the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act. In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Act and the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act, the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act shall control notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act.

Section 80. The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act is amended by adding Section 23 as follows:

(70 ILCS 3205/23 new)

Sec. 23. Conflicts with the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act. In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Act and the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act, the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act shall control notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act.

Section 85. The Downstate Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act is amended by adding Section 110 as follows:

(70 ILCS 3210/110 new)

Sec. 110. Conflicts with the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act. In the event of a conflict between any provision of this Act and the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act, the Stadium Transparency and Responsible Spending Act shall control notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act.