Legislators circulate bill aim to attract TV shows, movies to film in Wisconsin

Yahoo

01-05-2025

MADISON - Wisconsin legislators hope to incentivize TV shows and movies to film in the state with a package of bills that would provide tax credits and create a state office dedicated to working with producers and crews.
A package of bills proposed by Reps. Dave Armstrong, R-Rice Lake, Calvin Callahan, R-Tomahawk, and Karen Hurd, R-Withee and Sens. Julian Bradley, R-New Berlin, and Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point, would offer benefits to shows like "Top Chef," which filmed in Madison and Milwaukee in recent years.
Here's what you should know about the new bills.
The first in the set of proposed bills would establish tax incentives to draw in productions that be disbursed after the production expenses are spent and justified, according to the memo circulated for co-sponsorship of the bills.
The incentives include:
A tax credit equal to 30% of the salary or wages paid to the company's employees in the tax year for services rendered in the state, for employees who were residents of the state at the time.
An income and franchise tax credit in an amount that is equal to 30% of the production expenditures paid by the company in the taxable year to produce a film, video, broadcast advertisement, or television production. If the total amount of the credits claimed by the company exceeded the company's tax liability, the state would issue a refund.
An income and franchise tax credit in an amount that is equal to the amount of sales and use taxes that the claimant paid for tangible personal property and taxable services used to produce a film, video, broadcast advertisement, or television production in this state.
The proposed bills would also establish a formal state office dedicated to attracting productions to the state and handling the incentives.
A similar bill was proposed last session but did not make it to Gov. Tony Evers' desk.
Wisconsin recently saw what the impact of a high-level production could have, thanks to the filming and release of season 21 of "Top Chef."
According to the memo, "Top Chef" spent about $5 million filming in Wisconsin and received about $500,000 as a part of a state incentive package.
As a result of the show, Milwaukee saw a $1.5 million boost in hotel room bookings, the memo says.
More: 'I know my way around a curd': How Wisconsin native Kat Turner fared on Episode 2 of 'Top Chef' Season 22
Another project, a Christmas movie filming in Door County, has spent $600,000 over three weeks.
"Now imagine the benefits to the state and local economies if Wisconsin had a state film office dedicated to attracting productions, instead of the current ad hoc approach," the memo says.
You may recognize the iconic peach included on movies or T.V. shows that are filmed in Georgia. Or maybe you've seen a movie that contains the Chicago skyline.
Georgia and Illinois are two of many states that incentivize the filming of shows or movies. According to the bill memo, Wisconsin is one of only five states without a film office or commission, and one of only 10 states that does not provide production incentives.
"Without production incentives and a state film office to market Wisconsin, we're leaving money on the table," the memo says.
In addition to Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Minnesota also all invest in film and T.V.
The memo also highlights the filming of the show "Yellowstone" in Montana generating a large amount of spending from both the production and from resulting tourism. Overall, the production resulted in $730.1 million in spending to the state's economy.
It also generated 10,200 jobs across industries and resulted in 1 million visitors in 2021 who decided to visit the state as a result of the show.
Laura Schulte can be reached at [e-mail] and on X @SchulteLaura.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Proposed bills aim to attract TV shows, movies to film in Wisconsin