Austin, TX -- The Texas Legislature recently passed legislation to ensure Texas retains more jobs and generates more in-state spending by enhancing access to state resources for film and television production companies. House Bill 374, sponsored by Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, and authored by Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, creates an essential framework to help film and production companies coordinate efficiently their use of Texas building and land resources.

Effective Sept. 1, the bill authorizes the Texas Music, Film, Television and Multimedia Office to administer cost-effective and accountable procedures for using state buildings and grounds in film productions. Currently there are no coordinated efforts or procedures in Texas that provide film and production companies with easy access to state resources, a standardized fee schedule for use of resources or a state supported entity to help schedule production efforts. HB 374 will provide this.

"Texas certainly has the potential as a successful marketplace for the film and television industry," Senator Zaffirini said. "This new law is a positive first step in creating much needed incentives and standard rate-guidelines for the use of state resources in films. I thank Rep. Pickett for his leadership in authoring this bill that greatly will help Texas' film industry thrive and provide valuable jobs and revenue."

"Texas now has one more incentive to attract film producers to Texas," Rep. Pickett said. "We are opening our state properties and park sites to the movie business. We have diverse, historic and beautiful sites to offer the imagination of the film industry."

According to the Texas Film Commission, Texas lost approximately $306 million of in-state spending and more than 4,100 jobs to states that provide basic incentives to film and television production companies.

###