Indiana's governor is opening up more on his hopes the Bears build their new stadium in Hammond.

Governor Mike Braun spoke exclusively with ABC7 Chicago, saying he's feeling more confident than ever that the Hoosier state will soon be home to the Chicago Bears.

Governor Braun says he's not counting his chickens before they're hatched, but he is clearly optimistic that Hammond in Northwest Indiana could be the Bears' new home soon.

Braun was in Merrillville for Indiana Business Hall of Fame inductions, addressing the topic that's on the minds of most business people and residents of Northwest Indiana: The Bears.

"Dare I say there might be a good, better, best stadium construction in Hammond," Braun said. "Just saying."

Governor Braun says the McCaskeys have been to the governor's mansion in Indianapolis on several occasions, and he's had plenty of opportunity to sell the Hoosier state to the Bears ownership group. One selling point is Indiana's AAA credit rating.

"You'll get a lot more stadium for the amount of money you invest. And with the vitality and business atmosphere of what you can get coming into Hammond," Braun said.

Indiana state lawmakers passed legislation in late February to pave the way for the Bears to build their new stadium in Hammond near Wolf Lake. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed at NFL meetings Tuesday that the Bears are only looking at two possible stadium sites, Hammond and Arlington Heights.

READ MORE |Goodell appears to emphasize two viable sites for new Bears stadium are Arlington Heights, Hammond

While Goodell said he has spoken with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Braun says his communications have been with the Bears ownership, and he says he believes they appreciate the speed and efficiency of doing business in Indiana as opposed to Illinois.

"So often you get entangled where government is involved," Braun said. "Speed is not a word you associate with it."

Meanwhile, the Illinois legislative session is getting down to the wire with just over a week left. The Illinois Senate has not yet voted on the "mega-projects" bill, which the Bears say is essential to them staying in the state of Illinois.

The measure that would pave the way for an Arlington Heights stadium is opposed by Mayor Brandon Johnson and some Chicago legislators who want the team in the city.

"You know, I'm hopeful that the people who want to tank the bill are not successful," Gov. Pritzker said.

"If it doesn't happen... it will be a very dark day for Illinois, and I think that the Bears will be really, really challenged with staying in Illinois," Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia said.

Braun says the ease with which Indiana has moved is something the Bears will consider in its decision.

"The Illinois legislature has been in session for a long time and really has not come up with anything that looks like it's gonna be what they're looking for," Braun said. "I think the merits of where would you want to be long-term, I think that's what in my mind, if I were in their shoes, I'd be putting a lot of emphasis on that."

Governor Braun says he believes the Bears will be finished with their due diligence work on the Hammond site soon. He's expecting an announcement on where the team plans to build in the next three or four weeks..

ABC7 is learning new details about the Chicago Bears' stadium plans on Tuesday.

NFL owners and executives met in Orlando for a number of important decisions, including awarding the 2030 Super Bowl to Nashville. But with the Bears looking for a chance to host their own Super Bowl, they are focused on building a new domed stadium, and team executives provided a briefing to NFL owners at Tuesday's meeting.

The NFL's chief spokesman told ABC7 that team owners are getting antsy for the Bears to decide on their future home. But the Bears are, in some ways, at the mercy of state lawmakers, who are still working out details of the so-called mega projects bill that would provide property tax breaks for a new stadium in Arlington Heights.

NFL owners and executives from all 32 teams held a one-day meeting in Orlando that included a briefing from Bears Chairman George McCaskey and Team President Kevin Warren.

It was a chance for the team to update the league on its stadium and financing plans that are focused on only two sites: the 326-acre former racetrack property in Arlington Heights, which the team purchased three years ago, and a site near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana, which would be a heavily taxpayer-supported project.

Lawmakers are in the final two weeks of the legislative session but still have work to do to rework the mega projects bill that would provide property tax breaks for a new stadium in Arlington Heights.

"We are focused very much on what's good for the taxpayers when we're making decisions about whether and how we're going to incentivize the Bears to stay. We have a deal on the table with the Bears that works for the Bears and works for the taxpayers," said Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

While Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson continues to insist there is a way to keep the Bears at Soldier Field, the team has made it clear they have moved on from that site.

Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, said even though there has been a fight between the Pritzker and Johnson surrounding whether or not the Bears go to the suburbs or stay in the city, he has faith tgat the Bears will move in the right direction.

"This is part of the process," Buckner said. "You know, politics ain't being bad, and it is a contact sport, and it requires, I think, you know, some back and forth at times... At the end of the day, we have put together pieces of a package already that make it very clear that Illinois is a much better option than anything, you know, east of our border."

The 32 owners are anxious for some answer from the Bears about where they want to build a new stadium, something that will require support from 24 teams in order for the Bears to move forward. Lawmakers hope to do what's needed to keep the Bears in Illinois.

"Their job is to make this happen as quick as possible. Our jobs in the state legislature and the state government is to make sure we do it in the way that does not negate the fact that we are responsible to the taxpayers of Illinois," Buckner said. "Our job is to continue to move this train along in a way that gives them the ability to make the proclamation I think that we know they need to make, which is that Illinois is their home."

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell provided an update after the meeting concluded.

"There was a specific update on the Bears with respect to the two sites that they're evaluating that are viable in the Bears' mind and others and ours, both one in Illinois and one in Indiana," Goodell said. "The legislature in Illinois is obviously focused on that. They're getting into the final days of their session. I've spoken to the governor recently, and I think there's a focus on trying to get something done there, and then they'll have two viable sites that the Bears can make their decision from."

That was the extent of the NFL update, other details that may or may not have been shared in the meeting were not disclosed. But the point that seems to reverberate from what Goodell said is that there are only two viable sites, and Chicago is not one of them.

Both Pritzker and Buckner expressed optimism that lawmakers will get a deal done for the Bears before May 31, when the legislative session end.

The Bears had no comment after the owners meeting ended on Tuesday afternoon. Warren has said the team will have a decision on new stadium plans by "late spring, early summer."