Texas Passes Bill to Invest $1.5 Billion in Film Incentives Program
Senate Bill 22, which invests $1.5 billion into Texas’ film incentives program over the next decade, has been passed into law and will go into effect starting Sept. 1.
The piece of legislation was not among the 334 bills that Gov. Greg Abbott signed and publicly endorsed on Sunday, but bills can become law without his signature, per the state constitution.
How Film Incentives Work in Texas
In Texas, film incentives are cash rebates for productions. The more money a production spends in state, the higher a rebate the production could receive.
SB 22 establishes a $300 million biennial fund for the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program. It’s less than the $500 million figure lawmakers had considered, but is still a new record for the program, which was previously boosted with $200 million in 2023.
Impact on the Film Industry in Texas
“This bold investment will attract high-quality film and television projects to production hubs like Dallas,” Katie Schuck, the Dallas film commissioner, wrote in a Monday email. “This is truly a gamechanger.”
In Fort Worth, sightings of TV productions, usually linked to Taylor Sheridan, are common. The city’s film commissioner, Taylor Hardy, wrote in a Tuesday email that “film production has created a major economic boost, generating over $700 million in local impact, while supporting businesses and creating jobs in our community. Productions also shine a spotlight on our city, sharing Fort Worth’s unique charm with audiences around the world. We look forward to welcoming more filmmakers to Fort Worth soon.”
Lobbying Efforts and Star Power
Lobbying in support of increased film incentives brought star power to the state Capitol, with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson — two Texas-born actors who have recently been shooting in Austin for an Apple TV+ comedy — making appearances.
The Fort Worth-raised Sheridan also testified before lawmakers in a pre-legislative session meeting last fall, expressing his frustration with the instability of the incentives program.
Key Provisions of the Bill
Among the bill’s key provisions, there is a new crew residency minimum requirement. It has been lowered from 55% to 35% with incremental increases back up to 50% by 2035. Some North Texas filmmakers had struggled to meet previous minimums, citing a dearth of crew in the area.
The bill also includes several new incentive boosts of 2.5% for projects that meet certain criteria, such as shooting in rural areas, shooting at historic sites, having at least 5% of crew be veterans and being faith based.
What Remains to be Seen
What remains to be seen is how language around applications that could be denied for containing “content that portrays Texas or Texans in a negative fashion” will be addressed.
The Texas Film Commission, housed within the state’s Office of Economic Development & Tourism, oversees the review and approval of applications.
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Conclusion
The passage of Senate Bill 22 is a significant development for the film industry in Texas. With a $1.5 billion investment in the film incentives program, the state is poised to attract more high-quality film and television projects, creating jobs and boosting local economies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Senate Bill 22?
A: Senate Bill 22 is a piece of legislation that invests $1.5 billion into Texas’ film incentives program over the next decade.
Q: How do film incentives work in Texas?
A: In Texas, film incentives are cash rebates for productions. The more money a production spends in state, the higher a rebate the production could receive.
Q: What are the key provisions of the bill?
