Congress Introduces Bipartisan Film Tax Credit to Lure Production Home

A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act on September 24, 2026, to lure movie and television production back to the United States. The legislation proposes a 20 percent transferable tax credit on wages for productions spending at least $1 million and filming at least 75 percent of their content domestically. Bonus credits of up to 10 percent are available for independent producers or projects located in rural opportunity zones and federal disaster zones, bringing the maximum possible credit to 30 percent.

Donald Trump and a coalition of Democrats and Republicans support the measure, which would stack on top of existing state credits. In states like California, Georgia, and New York, total subsidies could reach 50 percent. Supporters argue the initiative will generate nearly $250 billion in economic activity between 2027 and 2035 and reverse a trend of overseas production that cost Los Angeles over 42,000 jobs between 2022 and 2024.

Senate sponsors Adam B. Schiff and Tim Scott, along with House sponsors Linda T. Sánchez, Nathaniel Moran, Laura Friedman, and Judy Chu, aim to incorporate the incentive into a tax bill during the upcoming lame-duck session. The proposal has received endorsements from the Motion Picture Association, SAG-AFTRA, the Teamsters, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Critics, however, argue that these subsidies are an inefficient use of taxpayer funds compared to other public priorities.