Garcia Bill Requires 70 Percent Texas Crews For Film Grants

The text as introduced · 458 words

89R17160 BEE-D

By: Garcia of Bexar
H.B. No. 5440

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to 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 moving

image project [ 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 70 [ 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

(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. Section 485.024(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Section 485.025, a grant awarded

under this subchapter may not exceed an [ the ] amount equal to 30

percent of a production company's eligible in-state spending for

the moving image project [ established by office rule ]. The office

shall adopt rules prescribing the method the office will use to

calculate the amount of a grant awarded under this subsection. The

office shall publish a written summary of the method for

determining grants before awarding a grant under this section. The

method must consider at a minimum:

(1) the current and likely future effect a moving

image project will have on employment, tourism, and economic

activity in this state; and

(2) the amount of a production company's in-state

spending for a moving image project.

SECTION 3. Section 485.027, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) A junior college or nonprofit organization

contracting with the office in accordance with Subsection (a) to

create a training program described by that subsection may accept:

(1) money the legislature appropriates to the office

for purposes of this chapter; and

(2) gifts, grants, or donations from any source.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.