Texas Senate doubles film production incentives to $500 million

The Texas Senate has passed Senate Bill 22, which would more than double the state's funding for film and television production incentives to $500 million every two years until 2035, aiming to make Texas more competitive with other states that offer substantial incentives. The bill received strong bipartisan support in a 23-8 vote and now moves to the House for consideration. Proponents argue that the program has delivered significant economic benefits, with the Texas Film Commission reporting nearly a 500% return on investment, though some lawmakers question the accuracy of these metrics. The bill grants the governor’s office broad discretion over which projects receive funding and introduces additional incentives for faith-based and 'family values' productions, while restricting funding for projects involving pornography, religious services, and other specified content. Productions must film at least 60% of their project in Texas and submit a budget outlining in-state expenditures to qualify. Supporters emphasize the bill will provide much-needed certainty to producers and boost local economies, while critics voice concerns about the subjective criteria for grant approval.