By: Goldman, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Huffman) H.B. No. 4539

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2023; May 9, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Finance; May 15, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 14, Nays 3; May 15, 2023, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

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 [70] 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. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

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