Texas Boosts Film Incentives to $300M Biennially, Spurs San Antonio Growth

Texas has significantly increased its commitment to the film industry with the passage of Senate Bill 22, raising funding for the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP) to $300 million every two years, guaranteed through 2035. This investment is expected to generate $1.5 billion over the next decade and yield nearly $4.69 in economic return for every dollar spent, aiming to boost local productions and job opportunities, particularly in San Antonio. The city of San Antonio supplements this effort with its own film incentive, offering up to 38.5% total savings when combined with state incentives, and requires productions to hire a portion of local talent to support the community. Texas also sets itself apart by allowing the film office to reject projects with content deemed inappropriate or negatively portraying Texas, a policy upheld by the courts. These incentives are part of a broader push to compete with other states like New Mexico, Georgia, and Louisiana, which are also revising their film tax credit programs to attract productions amid economic challenges. Industry insiders in Texas express optimism that the enhanced programs will elevate the state’s standing as a major player in the film and media production sector.