Martinez Bill Drops Texas Hiring Rule For Film Grants

The text as introduced · 247 words

89R13747 SCF-D

By: Martinez
H.B. No. 3543

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to qualifications for participation in the moving image

industry incentive program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 485.023, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 485.023. QUALIFICATION. To qualify for a grant under

this subchapter:

(1) a production company must have spent a minimum of:

(A) $250,000 in in-state spending for a film or

television program; or

(B) $100,000 in in-state spending for a

commercial or series of commercials, an educational or

instructional video or series of educational or instructional

videos, or a digital interactive media production;

(2) [ at least 55 percent of the production crew,

actors, and extras for a moving image project must be Texas

residents unless the office determines and certifies in writing

that a sufficient number of qualified crew, actors, and extras are

not available to the company at the time principal photography

begins;

[ (3) ] at least 60 percent of the moving image project

must be filmed in Texas; and

(3) [ (4) ] a production company must submit to the

office an expended budget, in a format prescribed by the office,

that reflects all in-state spending and includes all receipts,

invoices, pay orders, and other documentation considered necessary

by the office to accurately determine the amount of a production

company's in-state spending that has occurred.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.