Major Film Bills Pass

On Thursday, May 7, many film bills were heard on both the House and Senate floors. We want to send a big thank you to everyone who was in attendance and who contacted your legislators. You all made a great impact.

HB829 passed the House floor with a number of amendments. HB829 is a reasonable bill for the film industry. It currently provides for a $200 million cap on the film program but also supports an indigenous film industry.

We do not expect HB276 or HB704 to be heard in the House since both authors tried to amend the current legislation but could not retain enough support for their caps. As always, please stay close to your email as we will send updates on the next steps for each bill as we hear.

Please see the following recap of the day’s events:

House Floor:
HB 829 - Relates to the motion picture tax credit.
The bill was amended on the floor to include a $200 million film cap. It also supports indigenous film in Louisiana.
Passed favorably with amendments from the House floor.
Bill will now be headed to the Senate for additional hearing.

Senate Floor: All bills passed favorably
SB98 - TAX/TAXATION - Requires sellers of motion picture investor tax credits to qualify for and be included in a Public Registry of Motion Picture Investor Tax Credit Brokers.
SB100 - TAX/TAXATION - Requires: LED to engage independent auditors to prepare production expenditure verification reports for motion picture investor tax credits; sworn affidavits of those submitting information for the reports; regulates and limits expenditures between related parties and subjects them to review the state inspector general.
SB101 - TAX/TAXATION - Requires the Louisiana Workforce Commission to provide information to LED and LDR to verify payroll and employment of Louisiana residents for purposes of the motion picture investor tax credit.
SB103 - TAX/TAXATION - Excludes certain expenditures as eligible for motion picture investor tax credits.
SB105 - TAX/TAXATION - Authorizes the recapture of disallowed tax credits from owners of entities created or organized for the primary purpose of receiving and/or selling motion picture investor tax credits.
The bills will now be headed to the House for hearings.

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