Latest news with #TexasMovingImageIndustryIncentiveFund
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill to pump up to $500 million into Texas films OK'ed in the House
The Texas House on Sunday passed a bill increasing the amount of money the state spends to attract film and television productions. Senate Bill 22, filed by Houston Republican Sen. Joan Huffman, received preliminary approval from the Texas House, 105-34. The bill allows the comptroller to deposit $500 million into a new Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Fund every two years until 2035. Eligible expenses include Texas workers' wages, meals purchased from local restaurants, and airfare on Texas-based airlines. The actual dollar amount seems subject to change, as Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, the bill's sponsor, suggested it might drop to $300 million based on discussions in committee hearings. 'It could go up to $500 million as they haven't finalized the budget, but the $300 million is what they're discussing,' Hunter told lawmakers. Hunter said SB 22 does not guarantee the film incentive fund $500 million, which acts as a ceiling. 'You already voted for the budget. This money was placed in the budget. That's not this bill,' Hunter told lawmakers. 'This bill provides safeguards on how Texas spends money on film.' Chase Musslewhite, co-founder of Media for Texas, a non-profit organization dedicated to boosting the state's film and media industry, said on Tuesday she had heard discussions about decreasing the $500 million amount. Still, as long as it's above $200 million, she said her organization is content. 'This bill makes us competitive with our neighbors so that we wouldn't be losing our stories to New Mexico, Louisiana, and Georgia, but it wouldn't make us competitive enough to open the floodgates,' said Musslewhite. 'About six or seven other states still offer more or have stronger incentives, and I think that works perfectly for Texas. We're not trying to have everybody come here and join the rat race to get more incentives. We just want to be baseline competitive.' This bill has been the subject of commentary and discussion for several weeks now. Critics have been alarmed at the amount of money that would be given to productions and the potential political and local impact Hollywood might have on Texas. 'This bill provides taxpayer-funded incentives to the film and entertainment industry. The same industry that trashed us for supporting President Trump, mocked us for standing up for the unborn, and ridiculed our Christian faith at every opportunity,' said Rep. David Lowe, R-North Richland Hills, who spoke against the bill. 'Now we are expected to trust them to produce family-friendly content and reimburse them $2.5 billion over the next decade. Let's stop the Hollywood handouts.' Others have raised concerns about how the governor's office will determine which productions to fund. The bill gives the governor's office complete discretion over which projects receive grant funding. However, supporters pointed out that many of these things have already been in place, and the bill doesn't stop films from being made; it just provides extra incentives. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Texas is one of 37 states to offer a film incentive program. However, due to the uncertainty surrounding their incentive program, Texas is far behind states like New York, Georgia, and New Mexico when it comes to Westerns and other film and TV productions. 'There are tons of Texans who live in California and New York, all over the globe, who are pursuing their careers, because those opportunities weren't here in Texas,' said Grant Wood, Co-founder, Media for Texas. 'We have essentially been subsidizing the workforce of these other states. It's all about bringing that workforce home and continuing to create a more robust and diverse economy.' Since 2007, lawmakers have funded the film incentive program at varying levels, with $50 million during one legislative session followed by $45 million the next. A then-historic $200 million came during the most recent session in 2023. The program has boosted economic activity in Texas, producing a 469% return on investment, according to the Texas Film Commission, though economists and some House lawmakers have criticized that metric and denounced film incentives as wasteful spending. SB 22 would make Texas more attractive to producers who have opted to film their projects in other states that have historically offered larger and more stable incentives, according to Musslewhite. The bill has received support from actors like Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, and Dennis Quaid, and creators like Chad Gunderson, who produces the show 'The Chosen,' and Taylor Sheridan, who wrote the movie Hell or High Water. 'I think with the celebrity power we have behind this, once this bill gets passed, it will spread like wildfire,' Musslewhite said, mentioning 10 productions are already interested in shooting in Texas. In addition to pumping more money into film incentives, SB 22 would make smaller films eligible for larger grants. Currently, projects that spend between $1 million and $3.5 million in Texas are eligible for a 10% rebate, and projects that pay more than $3.5 million can receive a 20% grant. The bill proposes a larger, 25% grant for feature films and television programs that spend at least $1.5 million. Texas' film incentive program offers an additional 2.5% incentive to productions shot in certain 'underutilized' or 'economically distressed areas,' as well as to those with veterans who make up 5% of the total paid crew. One of the biggest fears expressed by Republican lawmakers when it comes to this bill is the amount of influence this gives 'Hollywood' executives over Texans when it comes to booking stadiums or parks, closing down roads or streets, and taking up resources, a fear that Musslewhite says is unfounded. 'I have always found this fear interesting because I think it doesn't give enough credit to how Texans operate, how strong we are in our sensibilities, who we are, and how we do business,' Musselewhite said. 'Instead of fearing what Hollywood will do to Texas, we should be enthusiastic about what Texas will implement on the industry.' Disclosure: National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. 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Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Texas lawmakers seek billions for film production incentives
ARCHER COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL) — Texas lawmakers are working to increase film production incentives this session to make Texas the next Hollywood. One Texoman, who's a film liaison for Archer County, said this could be a big boost for our area given its film history. Loco for Cinco Fest highlights art and culture with live mural painting It's been more than 50 years since 'The Last Picture Show' debuted on the big screen. Lawmakers are debating adding half a billion dollars to a new 'Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Fund' every two years until 2035. It's the most lawmakers have allocated for productions since starting the incentive grant in 2007. 'With potentially this big incentive package coming through the legislator, [could Texas be] like a big destination for future films?' 'I think so,' Archer County Liaison Richard Shelley said. Shelley has worked with production crews to scout areas within the county for possible film locations. 'There's a lot of activity, a lot of people ask what is there in Texas because it's much cheaper to do it here,' Shelley said. Texas is one of 37 states to offer film incentives. So this isn't new to the Lone Star State. It's even garnered support from A-list actors from the Lone Star State. 'This incentive is an investment in Texas in that it will create more income for the state that can be allocated to other places, where the money's needed,' Matthew McConaughey said as he spoke to a committee of lawmakers. 'Every grant dollar awarded returns to $4.69 to the state of Texas, and it's a 469% ROI.' Houston native Dennis Quaid echoes McConaughey's remarks, saying this is a chance to create new jobs. 'Hollywood has lost the narrative,' Quaid said. '[It's] an opportunity for Texas in a long-term commitment to become not a leader, but the leader in the film and television industry.' Shelley said economic benefits will be felt throughout Texoma. 'Any of these rural counties around Wichita Falls, they're going to be the ones that they are going to get the biggest piece of money that's spent. They will hire local people to be in these movies,' Shelley said. Time ticks on lawmakers to pass the bill before the session ends. Additional incentives are available to productions that film in rural areas of the state or hire a certain number of veterans for their cast and crew. Currently, Senate Bill 22 is in the Culture, Recreation, and Tourism House Committee. Its companion bill, House Bill 4568, is pending in the same committee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Matthew McConaughey-backed film incentive bill gets Texas Senate approval
A legislative incentives proposal with a star-studded cast of supporters, aimed at pumping billions of dollars into a Texas movie-making fund, passed the state Senate on Wednesday, potentially setting the stage for the Lone Star State to become the next big filmmaking hub. Senate Bill 22 by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, would create the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Fund, infusing $500 million every two years for a decade into a program that lawmakers hope will spur economic development in the state and promote the spread of "Texas values" through film and television. The upper chamber advanced the bill to the House by a 23-8 vote. The new film incentive fund would bolster an existing program that provides cash grants for films and TV shows that primarily shoot in Texas and hire a significant portion of their crews from within the state. Proponents say the new fund would position Texas to compete with other film-friendly states like Georgia and neighboring New Mexico, potentially keeping local talent from leaving for more favorable job markets. As per the proposal, films and TV shows that spend at least $250,000 in the state would be eligible for a grant worth up to 5% of the project's spending. Projects spending $1 million or more could get up to 10%, and productions spending more than $1.5 million could get a 25% reimbursement. Smaller grant amounts would be available for reality shows, commercials and educational videos. Additional bonus money would be available to faith-based productions or "Texas heritage projects," as determined by program administrators. Projects that shoot in rural areas, hire veterans or tackle post-production in Texas would also be eligible for a boost. The state's Music, Film, Television, and Multimedia Office would have wide discretion to administer the grants and determine what content receives a reimbursement. The office "shall consider general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the citizens of Texas" when evaluating projects, according to the bill, and can deny an application for content it deems inappropriate or that "portrays Texas or Texans in a negative fashion." The prospect of expanding film incentives in the state has garnered bipartisan support and has been popular with prominent Texas natives like actors Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, who both appeared at a committee hearing on SB 22 last month. More: Woody Harrelson, Matthew McConaughey ask Texas Senate panel to support new film incentives Huffman, McConaughey and other proponents of the bill have argued that film incentives provide a 469% return on investment, bolstering local economies where productions are made — especially when they hire "below-the-line" crew members from Texas, as the program would require. "If those are Texas workers, getting paid money in Texas, staying in Texas, then they go out and they rent an apartment, or they're going to the dry cleaners themselves, and they're buying groceries. All of this adds to the Texas economy," Huffman said during debate on the bill Wednesday. Critics of the proposal, such as Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, have characterized film incentives as wasteful government spending, calling instead for the money to be used for property tax cuts. Others, including Republican Sens. Donna Campbell of New Braunfels and Paul Bettencourt of Houston, have argued the bill doesn't go far enough to prevent tax dollars from being used on projects with obscenity or foul language. A floor amendment that added an additional boost for faith-based productions — like "The Chosen," a series about Jesus which is filmed near Midlothian — got majority support Wednesday, though Dallas Democratic Sen. Nathan Johnson criticized the proposal as "not a proper place for government." That amendment, and the bill, received Campbell's backing. "I think this bill is easy to support, because everything that it brings is jobs, dollars that add to our economy, sales tax dollars to help us decrease property taxes, as well as take ownership of language and start putting some parameters on what producers and writers can do," Campbell said. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who heads the upper chamber, has been a staunch advocate of film incentives and on Wednesday applauded the Senate's approval of SB 22. "The production incentive is an opportunity for us to export Texas faith and family values to the rest of America and the world while growing our economy and enriching Texas workers." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Senate OKs film incentives backed by McConaughey, Woody Harrelson
USA Today
03-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Texas Tinseltown? Mathew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson push film industry investment
Texas Tinseltown? Mathew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson push film industry investment Show Caption Hide Caption Jerry Jones' 'Landman' cameo: Dallas Cowboys owner talks family Watch Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones pull off a stunning cameo in "Landman" talking about oil and family. Two of the Lone Star State's biggest stars took centerstage at the state capitol this week in support of a bill that some hope will make Texas a major player in the film and TV industry, seeking to build on momentum that has already lured major productions like Landman, 1883 and Fear the Walking Dead to the state. After a star-studded hearing attended by Texas-born actors Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, the state's bipartisan senate finance committee unanimously voted ― as McConaughey himself might say ― alright, alright, alright for Senate Bill 22. The bill, brought by Republican Sen. Joan Huffman of Houston, would deliver $500 million every two years to the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Fund through 2035, eliminating the irregular ebbs and flows of prior funding that some complain have prompted some productions to film elsewhere. 'The current level of reimbursement is not as robust as other states,' Huffman said. 'This fact, coupled with inconsistent levels for the program, has put Texas at a disadvantage.' Positive portrayals of Texans a plus Huffman's bill, which now heads to the full Texas Senate, would build on guidelines set under the incentive fund, raising the top-tier base reimbursement rate to 25% from its current rate of 20%. It also lowers the amount of in-state spending required to qualify for that top tier from $3.5 million to $1.5 million, a move designed to benefit smaller productions. Chad Gunderson, producer of the Netflix series "The Chosen," a drama about the life of Jesus Christ filmed largely in Midlothian, southwest of Dallas, spoke in favor of the measure's rewards for smaller projects. His production, he noted, was initially too small to qualify for a reimbursement grant. "A lot of family-friendly, faith-based projects fall into that tier," he told the committee. The bill also offers the potential of further raising grant amounts up to 31% for projects that spend a certain portion of time filming in rural counties and those for which resident military veterans comprise at least 5% of cast and crew. Other incentives reward projects deemed by the governor's office as reflecting family values and positively portraying Texans. Texas' incentive fund, created in 2007, has created 189,000 Texas jobs and produced $2.5 billion in in-state spending, Huffman said. According to the state's Texas Film Commission, figures show every dollar paid out through grants has resulted in a $4.69 return. 'Fort Worth alone has seen $700 million in economic impact,' she said. 'While the program has been successful, the time has come to examine a different funding mechanism to provide more consistency and predictability for future applicants." Texas has seen a number of high-profile projects come to the state in recent years, including Landman, 1923, Fear the Walking Dead and The Chosen, and supporters of the bill say it could make the state a major industry player. 'If we pass this bill, we are immediately at the bargaining table for shooting more films and TV and commercials in our state,' McConaughey, flanked by Harrelson, told the committee. The nearly five-fold return on investment is a boon for local communities, he said, making the point while using his thin-haired, longtime friend as a foil. "That is money that's going to local Texas restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, dry cleaners, street rentals, home rentals ― even Woody's barber," he said with a smile. Film crews need breakfast tacos Adriana Cruz, executive director of the state's economic development and tourism office, noted the Paramount series 1883, which in addition to filming in the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth also shot scenes in farther flung places like Weatherford, Palo Pinto, Granbury and the Texas panhandle. The production resulted in nearly 2,000 production jobs and local spending of $65 million, she said, and under Huffman's bill would have been eligible for $15.5 million in grant funding. 'From a local economic development perspective, those productions that are coming and buying a year's worth of lumber from the lumber yard to build sets and hiring carpenters, utilizing a lot of small businesses in that community brings significant impact to that area,' Cruz said. Stephanie Whallon, president of the Texas Film Commission, agreed. 'Dry cleaners get very busy,' Whallon told the committee. 'You can make your yearly nut if a large-scale TV show comes to your town." The commission's 'Film Friendly Texas Certified Community' program educates small and medium-sized communities on preparing to host major productions, ensuring they have the proper infrastructure in place. 'When you get Film Friendly certified, you know how to match local businesses to production needs,' Whallon said. 'That can include the breakfast taco vendor. To feed a full-size crew you need at least 500 breakfast tacos.' F-bombs not 'Texas values,' committee member says Despite the unanimous vote, some committee members expressed reservations about what kind of films and programming would be eligible for the state-funded grants. Republican Sen. Donna Campbell of New Braunfels, Texas, said that while the bill prohibits funding for obscene material, it doesn't explicitly limit foul language. 'There's no value in using God's name in vain in movies or anywhere else,' she said. 'We're still in the Bible Belt. Maybe that's just my two cents, but that should be considered.' Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Republican from Houston, agreed, citing frustrations with the Paramount series Landman. 'It's completely wrong, it's not functionally correct, it doesn't explain what a landman does,' Bettencourt said. 'No offense, but having Billy Bob Thornton F-bomb every other sentence is not, in my mind, Texas values, so we do need to get a handle on this . . . It simply is a bad product and not something that Texas taxpayers would want to be supporting.' Cruz told committee members the bill would make Texas competitive with states such as Georgia and New Mexico, places she said production representatives have told her have lured them with heftier incentive programs. 'Our goal is to make Texas the moving image industry capital of the United States, if not the world,' Cruz said. 'Part of the goal is for Texans to tell Texas stories, but Texas is such a diverse state geographically that we can actually tell stories that take place in other places. We can double for other locations.' McConaughey said the bill would be 'a sustainable and profitable investment for our state and for Texas residents,' one that would encourage Texans who've moved elsewhere to work in the industry to return. He said the bill could provide the foundation for Texas to ultimately become a self-sustaining industry powerhouse. Production companies could partner with local community colleges to train people to become set designers, special effects technicians, hair and makeup specialists and other staff needed to make films. 'If we do this, we begin to create our own industry, our own pipeline of film and television – which in turn means producers and financers are not going to want to go to other states,' he said. 'There will be a point where we are not going to need financial incentives from the state because the infrastructure will be in place, and that will be a major game changer.' Brian Gannon, senior director of the Austin Film Commission, told USA TODAY that it used to be that a skilled and robust regional crew base, diverse local locations and support services like industry vendors and friendly city permitting were the ingredients for a healthy production system. That, he said, has changed. "Now incentives are the number-one priority for productions," Gannon said. "The large-scale productions that make a local economic impact.... are generally projects at a budget level that will not land in states or territories without competitive production incentives."
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Senate panel approves $500 million infusion for film incentives
Legislation that would more than double the amount of money the state spends to lure film and television production to Texas was passed unanimously Monday by a bipartisan group of Texas senators. Senate Bill 22, filed by Houston Republican Sen. Joan Huffman, would direct the comptroller to deposit $500 million into a new Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Fund every two years until 2035. That figure is more than state lawmakers have ever allocated for media production since they first started funding a film incentive grant in 2007. The bill would make Texas more attractive to producers who have opted to film their projects in other states, such as New Mexico and Georgia, that have historically offered larger and more stable incentives, Huffman said during a star-studded Senate Finance Committee hearing attended by Texas-born actors Matthew Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. The committee voted 11-0 to pass the bill, a representative for Huffman's office said. It now goes to the full Senate for consideration. 'Producers who want to film in Texas often have difficulty convincing the capital management side of film production companies to allow filming here when presented with more robust and consistent incentives being offered in other states,' Huffman said. Since 2007, lawmakers have funded the film incentive program at varying levels, with$50 million during one legislative session followed by $45 million the next. A then-historic $200 million came during the most recent session. The variability has left producers tentative to film in Texas for fear that the money might vanish at lawmakers whim. The program has boosted economic activity in Texas, producing a 469% return on investment, according to the Texas Film Commission, though economists and some House lawmakers have criticized that metric and denounced film incentives as wasteful spending. Fueled by endorsements from famous names in Hollywood, SB 22 appears to have widespread support. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers praised the film commission for what they said is a rigorous program that audits film production's spending and only offers rebates on money spent within Texas. Eligible expenses include Texas workers' wages, meals purchased from local restaurants, and airfare on Texas-based airlines. Flanked by Harrelson, McConaughey told lawmakers that increased funding would allow them and other actors to tell Texas stories in Texas. Seated behind the duo was Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has declared SB 22 one of his top pieces of legislation. By committing to 10 years of sizable funding, McConaughey said, Texas could grow into a media hub with facilities dedicated to post-production editing, along with a pipeline of film crew, including makeup artists, hair stylists, lighting experts and set designers. 'There's going to be a point where we are not going to need financial incentives from the state because the infrastructure will be in place, and that will be a major game changer,' McConaughey said. Despite showing overall support for boosting Texas filmmaking, some lawmakers questioned whether productions that aren't 'family-friendly' should be supported by taxpayer dollars. Both Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, and Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, suggested shows and movies that use profanities be ineligible for grants. Bettencourt singled out 'Landman,' a popular television series centering a West Texas oil company executive played by Billy Bob Thornton. 'It's not functionally correct, it doesn't explain what a landman does, and no offense, having Billy Bob Thornton f-bomb every sentence is not Texas values,' Bettencourt said of the show produced by Taylor Sheridan whose second season is expected next year. 'It simply is a bad product and not something the Texas taxpayers would want to be supporting.' The Texas Film Commission limits what types of projects are eligible for funding, and SB 22 would codify additional rules into statute. The bill would prohibit, for example, funding pornography or obscene material, local events or religious services, and casino-type video games. The law does not propose specific rules about foul language, but the governor's office has broad discretion to designate a project as ineligible for a grant. Adriana Cruz, executive director of the Texas Economic Development and Tourism office, said in response to Bettencourt that the office would look to state law and its own rules to determine whether to approve a project. Stephanie Whallon, the director of the Texas Film Commission, previously told The Texas Tribune that some projects had been rejected but didn't specify why. In addition to pumping more money into film incentives, SB 22 would make smaller films eligible for larger grants. Currently, projects that spend between $1 million and $3.5 million in Texas are eligible for a 10% rebate, and projects with a greater than $3.5 million spend can receive a 20% grant. The bill proposes a larger, 25% grant for feature films and television programs that spend at least $1.5 million. 'I'm excited about lowering some of these sliding scale boundaries or limitations because I think a lot of family-friendly, faith-based projects fall into that tier,' said Chad Gundersen, producer of 'The Chosen,' a television show about the life of Jesus Christ and his disciples that is mostly shot in the town of Midlothian, about 25 miles southwest of Dallas. Gundersen said during the hearing that his project was not initially eligible for a grant because it was too small. He added that it has since grown and resulted in more than $75 million spent in Texas. Campbell urged lawmakers and the film commission approving projects to remember that Texas is 'still in the Bible Belt,' and she praised 'The Chosen' as 'the greatest story ever told.' Texas' film incentive program offers an additional 2.5% incentive to productions that are shot in certain 'underutilized' or 'economically distressed areas,' as well as those that hire veterans as 5% of their total paid crew. SB 22 would create a new special boost to projects labeled 'Texas Heritage Projects,' as determined by the governor's office. The law would ask the office to consider whether the project promotes 'family values' and 'portrays Texas and Texans in a positive fashion.' Identical legislation, House Bill 4568, filed by Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi has not yet received a committee hearing. We can't wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
