HB5440 - Relating to the moving image industry incentive program.

  89R17160 BEE-D     By: Garcia of Bexar H.B. No. 5440       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the moving image industry incentive program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 485.023, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 485.023.  QUALIFICATION.  To qualify for a grant under   this subchapter:                (1)  a production company must have spent a minimum   of[ :                      [ (A)     $250,000 in in-state spending for a film or   television program; or                      [ (B) ]  $100,000 in in-state spending for a moving   image project [ commercial or series of commercials, an educational   or instructional video or series of educational or instructional   videos, or a digital interactive media production ];                (2)  at least 70 [ 55 ] percent of the production crew,   actors, and extras for a moving image project must be Texas   residents unless the office determines and certifies in writing   that a sufficient number of qualified crew, actors, and extras are   not available to the company at the time principal photography   begins;                (3)  at least 60 percent of the moving image project   must be filmed in Texas; and                (4)  a production company must submit to the office an   expended budget, in a format prescribed by the office, that   reflects all in-state spending and includes all receipts, invoices,   pay orders, and other documentation considered necessary by the   office to accurately determine the amount of a production company's   in-state spending that has occurred.          SECTION 2.  Section 485.024(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  Except as provided by Section 485.025, a grant awarded   under this subchapter may not exceed an [ the ] amount equal to 30   percent of a production company's eligible in-state spending for   the moving image project [ established by office rule ].  The office   shall adopt rules prescribing the method the office will use to   calculate the amount of a grant awarded under this subsection.  The   office shall publish a written summary of the method for   determining grants before awarding a grant under this section.  The   method must consider at a minimum:                (1)  the current and likely future effect a moving   image project will have on employment, tourism, and economic   activity in this state; and                (2)  the amount of a production company's in-state   spending for a moving image project.          SECTION 3.  Section 485.027, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:           (a-1)     A junior college or nonprofit organization   contracting with the office in accordance with Subsection (a) to   create a training program described by that subsection may accept:                 (1)     money the legislature appropriates to the office   for purposes of this chapter; and                 (2)  gifts, grants, or donations from any source.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.