Pritzker told reporters at an unrelated news conference that legislative leaders met earlier in the week with Bears CEO Kevin Warren, Chairman George McCaskey, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and a top official from the governor's office to finalize bill language. The goal, he said, is to have the legislation ready for rank-and-file members when they return to Springfield on Nov. 17.

"We wanna make sure the legislation is ready for people to look at and maybe have some hearings during that first week and then hopefully get voted on during the second week of the veto," Pritzker said.

The fall veto session is scheduled to end Dec. 3.

Under the emerging framework, the Bears would pay for construction of the stadium and then hand ownership to a new Public Stadium Authority, making the team a tenant that pays no property taxes. The team would likely receive money for infrastructure, and sources say discussions include provisions to make Soldier Field viable for other uses once the Bears leave. Bears officials have said Arlington Heights is their sole focus in Illinois, but the legislation would also give Chicago a chance to compete for the site.

On Friday, megadeveloper Related Midwest pitched the massive former U.S. Steel location on the south lakefront in a video narrated by former Bears linebacker Lance Briggs.

"Obviously there's a bill that's being put together that gives the Bears the opportunity to choose where they want to build a stadium in Illinois. And then it's going to be up to them where it goes," Pritzker said.

But the team is not closing the door on Indiana. In a statement, the Bears said they "continue to work collaboratively with local and state leaders in Indiana to advance our stadium development plans in Hammond, where we are finalizing due diligence details across two sites in the Wolf Lake area." The statement also expressed appreciation for "the recent engagement from Illinois leadership to explore legislation which has allowed us to share our feedback."

"We expect productive dialogue with both leadership teams in the coming weeks," the team said.

Even if legislative leaders and the team reach an agreement, passage is not assured. Under veto session rules, any bill would need a supermajority of votes, meaning the Bears would have to persuade some previous holdouts to switch their positions.

The stakes are significant for Chicago and the surrounding region. A new stadium deal would reshape the city's lakefront and could determine whether the Bears remain in Illinois or move across the state line, taking with them the tax revenue, jobs and civic identity tied to the franchise. The push for a publicly owned stadium authority also raises questions about who bears the long-term costs and who captures the benefits — questions that community groups and fiscal watchdogs are likely to press as the legislation moves.

For now, the clock is ticking on two tracks, with the team pursuing plans in Indiana and Illinois simultaneously and the governor signaling that a decision could come within weeks.