BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 4539
88R23665 SCP-F	By: Goldman et al. (Huffman)
	Finance
	5/12/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current law requires that 70 percent of a production crew must be Texas residents for a project to qualify for grants awarded under the moving image industry incentive program. Local leaders have raised concerns about stringent eligibility requirements for the grant program.

H.B. 4539 seeks to address this issue by decreasing the percentage to 55 percent of the production crew that must be Texas residents for a project to qualify for such a grant. As a result, Texas will become more attractive to film production companies seeking to apply for the program, leading to a boost in employment rates and a positive economic impact on communities throughout the state.

H.B. 4539 amends current law relating to qualifications for participation in the moving image industry incentive program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 485.023, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 485.023. QUALIFICATION. Provides that, to qualify for a grant under Subchapter B (Moving Image Industry Incentive Program) a project must meet certain criteria, including at least 55 percent, rather than 70 percent, of the production crew, actors, and extras for a moving image project be Texas residents unless the Music, Film, Television, and Multimedia Office (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.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2023.