Over the past twenty years, Texas has stepped into a leading role in American society, having the second largest population and economy among the 50 U.S. states, trailing only California. Now its political leaders are taking steps to assert its cultural influence, by introducing legislation to provide generous tax incentives for film and television production based in the Lone Star State.
Tax incentives are a key factor in media companies keeping or shifting their production to locations such as New York and Georgia. Even the relatively tiny state of New Mexico, the 36th most populous U.S. state and an immediate neighbor to Texas, has established a reputation as being a welcoming and affordable hub for production.
As Texas’s legislators work out the details of these new incentives, they are debating whether to apply a cultural filter to the content that qualifies, with the possible requirement not to be obscene, take certain political stances, or portray Texas in a negative light.
The Texas Film Commission would be charged with making these decisions. It would be a delicate balancing act to encourage economic activity while maintaining some control over the result. Famous Texan actors Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson have come out publicly to support the new incentives.
At the same time, others are making the case that production incentive programs are more costly to the state than the upside in economic activity, the product. We will watch closely to see what final legislation emerges.
