Texas Senate Passes $2.5 Billion Boost to Film Incentive Program

The Texas Senate approved a plan to invest $2.5 billion over the next decade into the state’s film and television incentive program, aiming to make the Lone Star State a top destination for movie and TV productions.

Senate Bill 22, authored by Senator Joan Huffman (R), would more than double the current funding levels of the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program and create a consistent revenue stream for the next ten years.

“[It] gives certainty to the industry and the investors who want to bring these great jobs to Texas,” said Huffman, who also chairs the Senate Finance Committee.

The incentive program, established in 2007, offers rebates of up to 25% for qualifying in-state expenditures. Productions must film at least 60% in Texas and spend money on Texas labor, goods, and services. Additional bonuses can push rebates as high as 31% for projects that shoot in rural areas, hire Texas military veterans, or promote “Texas Heritage” values.

An amendment to the bill adds incentives for faith-based and family-oriented productions, a priority for Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R).

“That’s always a good thing, to sell our Texas values, our faith values and our family values to the world,” he said.

Huffman said the program has generated strong returns. “For every dollar put into the grant program, the state has reaped almost five dollars in economic activity,” she told fellow lawmakers, citing 189,000 jobs and $2.5 billion in economic impact over the program’s nearly 20-year history.

The bill maintains strict oversight. Grants are only awarded after completion and after receipts are verified. The Governor’s Office, which oversees the program, may reject applications for any reason, including content deemed objectionable or negative portrayals of Texas.

Supporters praised the bill for its economic and cultural impact. Senator Phil King (R) said productions have revitalized small towns in his district.

“The small jobs, the opportunities, the restaurants that are full, the equipment rentals… I can really see it in Weatherford,” he said.

Senator Carol Alvarado (D) emphasized the importance of local storytelling.

“Let’s make sure that when it’s Texas in the script, it’s Texas on the screen,” she said.

With SB 22, lawmakers hope to keep productions from leaving for states with stronger incentives like Georgia or New Mexico, while cementing Texas as a creative and economic powerhouse in the entertainment industry.