THE INCENTIVES PROGRAM - TIP

On April 16, 2025, Governor Mike Braun Senate Bill 306 into law, thereby amending the Indiana Film and Media Production Tax Credit program as follows:

• Allows the taxpayer to assign any part of the film production tax credit that the taxpayer may claim;
• Limits the amount of any single credit to $250,000;
• Provides for an aggregate amount of $2 million of credits; and,
• Extends the program’s sunset date to June 30, 2031.

This act will take effect January 1, 2026, and apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

On April 3, 2025, Governor Andrew Beshear signed H 622 into law, thereby amending the date the state must redistribute unused credits from the state’s annual cap on credits awarded to continuous film productions to all approved motion picture or entertainment production by April 1 each calendar year, instead of July 1.

House Bill 129 is currently on Governor Brian Kemp’s desk, and if signed would renew the Georgia Entertainment Industry Postproduction Investment Act for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2031.

This Act will become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval and shall be applicable to all taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

Senate Bill 22 proposes to amend the moving image industry incentive program, as follows:

• Establishes the following grants for a moving image project that is:
  • A feature film, a television program other than a reality television program, or a visual effects project for a feature film or television program other than a reality television program with total in-state spending of:
    • At least $250,000 but less than $1 million, 5% grant;
    • At least $1 million but less than $1.5 million, 10% grant;
    • At least $1.5 million, 25% grant;
  • A digital interactive media production with total in-state spending of:
    • At least $100,000 but less than $1 million, 5% grant;
    • At least $1 million but less than $1.5 million, 10% grant;
    • At least $1.5 million, 25% grant;
  • A reality television program, as defined, with total in-state spending of:
    • At least $250,000 but less than $1 million, 5% grant;
    • At least $1 million, 10% grant;
  • A commercial, and all other qualified projects with total in-state spending of:
    • At least $100,000 but less than $1 million, 5 % grant;
    • At least $1 million, 10% grant;
• Provides for additional grants if the following criteria is met:
  • Texas heritage grant in an amount equal to 2.5% of total in-state spending for a project that is designated by the office as a Texas heritage project based on:
    • • The project’s current and likely future effect on the promotion of family values; or
      • Whether the project portrays Texas and Texans in a positive fashion;
  • Rural filming grant in an amount equal to 2.5% of total in-state spending for a project that:
    • • Spends at least 35% of the project’s filming days or man hours, as defined, in a county in this state with a population of 300,000 or less;
  • Postproduction grant in an amount equal to 1% of total in-state spending for a project if:
    • • At least 25% of the total in-state spending for the project is spent by the production company during postproduction on eligible expenditures;
  • Texas veterans grant in an amount equal to 2.5% of total in-state spending for a  project if:
    • • At least 5% of the production crew, actors, and extras for the project are Texas residents who served in and were honorably discharged from:
        • The army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the United States;
        • The Texas National Guard, as defined; or
        • A reserve component of an entity listed above;
  • A faith-based grant in an amount equal to 2.5% of total in-state spending for a project that is designated by the office as a faith-based project according to rules adopted by the office;
• Allows for a project to qualify for more than one additional grant;
• Limits the total amount of all grants received by a moving image project to 31% of the total in-state spending for the project;
• Modifies the required percentage of Texas production crew, actors, and extras who are Texas residents to be at least:
  • 35% for a moving image project that begins principal photography on or after September 1, 2025, and before September 1, 2027;
  • 40% for a moving image project that begins principal photography on or after September 1, 2027, and before September 1, 2029;
  • 45% for a moving image project that begins principal photography on or after September 1, 2029, and before September 1, 2031; and
  • 50% for a moving image project that begins principal photography on or after September 1, 2031;
• Stipulates that the office has broad discretion to rescind preliminary approval at any point in the grant process;
• Establishes the Texas moving image industry incentive fund; and,
• Allocates $500 million each fiscal biennium to the Texas moving image industry incentive fund from the collection of the taxes imposed by this chapter.

If enacted, this act takes effect September 1, 2025.