Legislative Call to Action

We need your support!

This Wednesday, the House Economic Development and Tourism Subcommittee will meet and discuss House Bill 451. You can help by emailing a letter to the committee members asking for their support and sharing your personal story. 

Listed below are the letter template and the contact information for all the committee members of the House Economic Development and Tourism Subcommittee. Please email both the legislator and their assistant no later than 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 18. There is a section for you to add your personal story. Please keep it brief and positive. 

Thank you for taking the time to support this legislative effort. 

Regards,
John McKarthy, SAG-AFTRA Miami Local Legislative Committee Chair
Herta Suarez, SAG-AFTRA Miami Local Executive Director

---

 

CLICK HERE FOR CONTACT LIST: Email both the legislator and the assistant by 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 18.

---

LETTER TEMPLATE: Insert your personal story where the bold and underlined text is below. Keep it brief and positive.

[Date]

The Honorable [Full Name of Legislator]
[Legislator’s Address at Capitol]
402 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399

Dear Representative [Legislator’s Last Name]:

The Florida Entertainment Industry Investment Program (HB451) is a fiscally responsible, Florida-centric, performance-based tax credit program that has a proven track record of bringing new money to Florida’s economy. Before even $1 of tax credits is awarded, productions must first spend all their money in Florida (including hiring Florida professionals) and provide audited proof that they have met all the program’s strict threshold requirements.

This bill improves sources of funding for the entertainment industry program and creates a quick action fund for the film industry. The bill additionally creates a Division of Film and Entertainment under Enterprise Florida, and specifies terms to receive the entertainment industry incentive.  

I urge you to consider supporting House Bill 451 in your upcoming Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee. THIS IS A JOBS BILL. If passed, this program will allow an industry of experienced professionals and small businesses to keep working in the state they love, keeping families together. 

[Insert information about your involvement with the film, entertainment and digital media production industries and how Florida’s Entertainment Industry Investment program has helped you, your business and/or your community.] 

• Florida’s film, entertainment and digital media production industries have created economic and fiscal benefits that extend beyond traditional production-related activities, including:
• Developing industry infrastructure and providing ancillary service; 
• Creating high-skill, high-wage jobs (including STEM jobs) for existing and developing workforces; and 
• Increasing tourism due to prominent placement of our state’s tourism assets in popular television shows and films.

Overall, film, entertainment and digital media infuse a significant amount of new capital into Florida’s economy by supporting infrastructure development, promoting tourism, contributing to the local hotel and lodging industry, and most importantly, PROVIDNG LOCAL JOBS.  

I appreciate your continued support and commitment to the success of the film, entertainment and digital media production industries. An investment in film, entertainment and digital media production is an investment in Florida’s and [insert your region/county name] future.

Sincerely,

[Your Name
Title (Actor, Dancer, etc.)
Address
Contact Number]

---

SAG-AFTRA is a union that has among its members a diverse group of performers, broadcasters and newscasters. The support of this bill should not be interpreted as a personal statement of opinion by or of any specific member of the union.