Latest news with #SB600
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Karen Bass Plugs Hike in Film Tax Credit: ‘Let's Bring Hollywood Back'
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass included a plug for the expansion of the film and TV tax credit in her State of the City speech on Monday, saying it is time to 'bring Hollywood back.' Bass spent most of the speech addressing the city's dire fiscal situation, homelessness, and the work of recovering from the Palisades Fire. But toward the end, she renewed her call for California lawmakers to triple the $330 million state subsidy for the film industry. More from Variety L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Appoints Steve Soboroff to Lead Pacific Palisades Rebuilding Efforts Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, LA28 Chief Casey Wasserman Talk 2028 Summer Olympics Plans L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Calls for 'Immediate' Resolution of Hollywood Strikes 'We have to win back our entertainment jobs,' Bass said in the City Council chambers, calling Hollywood 'our foundational industry.' Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed hiking the tax incentive to $750 million starting in July. Two bills, SB 600 and AB 1138, are pending in the Legislature to effectuate that increase, while also expanding the base credit from 20% to 35% of qualified production costs. The bills would also expand the incentive program to include sitcoms, animation and large-scale competition shows. Hearings are due to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Capitol on those bills. Industry labor unions have urged their members to email lawmakers to show their support. The California Production Coalition — an alliance of prop houses and soundstage owners under the guidance of the Motion Picture Association — has also urged support for the expansion. In her speech, Bass said the city will also 'do our part,' by making it cheaper to film on city property and streamlining the permitting process. After the speech, Bass' office released a budget proposal that includes 1,647 layoffs — which it called 'a decision of last resort.' Bass also said she would travel to Sacramento this week to advocate for more money for the city and to seek help with spiraling liability costs. The city faces a nearly $1 billion shortfall, as revenues have consistently fallen below expectations. Newsom previously signed a $2.5 billion authorization to help Los Angeles County recover from the fires in January. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmaker wants to boost manufacturing with a 'Fresh from Florida' flavor
A Florida lawmaker has a plan that could dramatically raise the average pay for Florida workers. Sen. Keith Truenow, R-Tavares, seeks to boost the manufacturing sector with a 'Fresh from Florida' approach, referring the 30-year-old state managed entity that partners with farmers and growers in advertising and to promote agriculture at retail trade shows and to export markets. The average wage of workers in manufacturing was $28.55 in January, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. finds the average hourly wage in Florida is about $15.55. Truenow's bills (SB 600, SB 602) would create an Office of Manufacturing within the Department of Commerce to support workforce development through grants, and a state managed promotional campaign for manufacturers. The number of Florida manufacturing jobs has boomed in the past decade, increasing by 23% since 2014 with the state emerging as a leader in making metals, aerospace components and furniture, along with computer and electronic products. According to Florida Makes, a federal mechanical extension program, there are 72,000 manufacturing companies in Florida, with two-thirds employing 20 people or less. Chris Dawson, who lobbies for the group, said Truenow's proposal seeks to boost the market exposure for those small companies. 'We want to maintain and home grow Florida's massive manufacturing businesses of tomorrow, and we're starting with the small folks,' Dawson said Tuesday during a Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development. The bill creates the Florida Manufacturers' Workforce Development Grant Program to provide workforce training, subject to appropriation by the Legislature. And for a fee, manufacturers would be included in a Florida Manufacturing Promotional Campaign. Those funds would be used to develop a logo and other materials to promote products and Florida manufacturing in media campaigns, trade shows and in export markets. Florida currently has more than 400,000 workers in the manufacturing sector but that represents a small fraction of the state's job opportunities. Manufacturing makes up just 4% of Florida jobs, far behind the nation's leader, Indiana with 17%, less than half of Texas at 8.2%, and below the U.S. as a whole at 7.7%, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. 'With the number of people living here it just makes sense to be manufacturing here,' Truenow told the USA TODAY Network – Florida during a break in a committee meeting. Truenow later amended the bill to establish a $100 registration and renewal fee to participate in the promotional campaign. The committee approved the measure unanimously. Its next and final committee stop is the Appropriations Committee; the House companion has yet to be heard in committee. James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@ and is on X as @CallTallahassee. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Plan to boost manufacturing could transform Florida's workforce
