Committee on License and Consumer Protection meeting, March 12, 2026
- When: Thu, Mar 12, 2026, 12:30 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on License and Consumer Protection
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928556?video=1172985739
- Transcript: full text (3,963 words, automatic captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The Committee on License and Consumer Protection heard one public commenter, who asked that proposed ward-level video gaming bans be held so affected businesses could be notified, and approved the February 2026 Rule 45 reports. The committee passed an amendment clarifying that online sports wagering companies are subject to the city's licensing and taxing regime, with Alderpersons Reilly and Villegas recorded as no votes, after Law Department staff answered questions about pending state preemption legislation and how the 10.25 percent tax applies. Two ordinances prohibiting additional video gaming licenses failed on roll calls requested by Alderperson Anthony V. Napolitano: the multi-ward ban failed 16 to 2 and the 28th Ward ban failed 14 to 3, after Alderperson Jason C. Ervin objected that his request to hold his ward-based item was not honored. The committee passed package goods license changes on South Hermitage and South Ashland Avenues and a liquor license restriction on North Western Avenue, and held items five and nine.
Topics: sports wagering tax, video gaming terminals, ward-level gaming bans, committee procedure, package goods licenses, liquor moratorium
Agenda items discussed
- 19:52 Rule 45 reports for February 2026: passed
- 20:22 Amendment of Municipal Code 4-156-962 regarding licensing of lawful sports wagering: passed
- 30:57 Prohibiting additional video gaming licenses in Wards 26, 27, 33, 35 and 49 (SO2025-0021968): failed
- 36:33 Prohibiting issuance of video gaming licenses in the 28th Ward (O2026-0023351): failed
- 40:35 Agenda item five: held
- 40:44 Allowing additional package goods licenses on portions of South Hermitage Avenue: passed
- 42:21 Allowing additional package goods licenses on portions of South Ashland Avenue: passed
- 43:57 Disallowing additional alcoholic liquor licenses on portions of North Western Avenue (O2026-0023219): passed
- 44:53 Agenda item nine (O2026-0023188): held
Alderpersons who spoke
- Debra L. Silverstein (chair): Told Alderperson Jason C. Ervin she had not received his message and that the committee would vote because a motion had been made. (32:51); Explained that Alderperson Anthony V. Napolitano requested a roll call, it was seconded, and he declined to withdraw it, so the roll call would proceed. (38:47)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Asked whether the city is following pending Springfield legislation that would preempt local taxing of online sports wagering. (21:52); Noted about $26 million in 2026 budget revenue is tied to the tax and asked whether the city would consider a model similar to the county's lower rate. (22:51); Asked how changing the ordinance language interacts with a pending lawsuit by online betting companies. (24:45)
- Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Asked to confirm the 10.25 percent tax applies to companies' gross receipts and about the state's per-wager fee. (25:41); Said the change creates parity with the one in-person sports wagering location in the 44th Ward and moved to pass. (28:07)
- Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): As a co-sponsor, requested that the multi-ward video gaming ban be held. (31:57)
- Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Said he had asked that his 28th Ward video gaming item be held in committee. (32:34); Objected to voting on his own ward-based ordinance over his request to hold it, calling it an unusual precedent. (33:01); Repeated his request to hold the item, saying in 15 years he had not seen a ward-based matter handled this way. (37:48)
- Anthony V. Napolitano (alderperson): Said this had happened before, including to him, so precedent had already been set, and voted no. (39:42)
- Stephanie D. Coleman (alderperson): Asked for approval of a package goods license change for a 40-year business that a new operator plans to remodel as a grocery store. (42:49)
- Scott Waguespack (alderperson): Asked for approval of a liquor license restriction on Western Avenue between Melrose and School due to impacts from existing licensees. (44:20)
Exchanges between members
- 32:51 The chair told Ervin she had not received his message and that a motion to pass was pending.
- 33:01 Ervin objected to voting on his ordinance over his own request to hold it.
- 33:28 Ervin asked Napolitano whether he would withdraw his motion.
- 33:33 Napolitano said he would keep his motion and proceed with a roll call.
- 38:47 The chair explained to Ervin that the roll call would proceed because Napolitano kept his motion.
- 39:42 Napolitano told the chair this had happened before, including to him, before voting no.
- 41:14 The chair told Ervin he had not been recognized.