MA Senate Budget Update: Amendments for the Historic Tax Credits & the Film/Tax/TV Tax Credits
Yesterday, the Senate began the debate on its budget
The Senate rejected Amendment 17, which would have increased our state’s Historic Tax Credit program. MALC thanks Senator Moore, Senator Tarr, Senator Gobi, Senator O’Connor Ives and Senator L’Italien for their support and efforts to increase this important program. These tax credits have been used to maintain our Commonwealth’s historic building/sites and have helped to create/sustain art spaces of all sizes (museums, etc, artists’ housing and needed studio space).
The language of that rejected amendment:
OTH 17 Historic Tax Credits (Senator Michael Moore is the lead sponsor)
Messrs. Moore and Tarr moved that the bill be amended by inserting, after section ____, the following two sections:-
“SECTION _____. Section 6J of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 39, the figure “50,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “75,000,000”.
SECTION _____. Section 38R of chapter 63 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 37, the figure “50,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “75,000,000”.”
Some good news on the anti-film/tv tax credits amendments
One was withdrawn (Amendment 52 ). It would have repealed ALL Tax Credits within 3 years (Lead Sponsor: Senator Sonia Chang Diaz)
One was rejected (Amendment 68). It Required the Sunset of ALL Tax Credits (Lead Sponsor:Senator Mark C. Montigny)
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S3/Amendment/Senate/68/Text
One was redrafted twice and adpoted (Amendment 43) (Lead Sponsor: Senator Jamie Eldridge) The redraft eliminated the language to end the Film/Tv Tax Credit and replacing it with language to create a special commission to conduct a report on this program.
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S3/Amendment/Senate/43/Text
Note: These votes were not roll call votes so there is no record on how individual senators voted on these four amendments.
Watch the Senate debate live:
https://malegislature.gov/Events/SenateSessions
The full run down from yesterday “Chamber Actions” :
https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2016/Senate/ChamberActions
(via Massachusetts Production Coalition)
Important Film Production Incentive Legislative Update
As you know, this week several amendments to the State Senate Budget (43, 52 & 68) were filed to eliminate the film production incentive. Yesterday the State Senate began debate on their budget.
The State Senate rejected Amendments 52 and 68. The Senate redrafted Amendment 43 to take away eliminating the film incentive, but approved language to create a “Special Commission” to make a report regarding the film production tax incentive program. This compromise language is a victory since the original amendments would have ended the film production incentive. OUR advocacy efforts, messages, and phone calls to state legislators are clearly having an impact!
The House budget includes no changes to the film tax incentive. After the Senate finishes debate on their budget, the House and Senate will work together to create a final budget to send to the Governor. In addition, the Governor’s proposed bill, H. 62, remains in the Joint Committee on Revenue and is still alive.
NEXT STEPS
With the Special Commission passed by the Senate, and the Governor’s bill, H. 62 still in committee, our efforts will continue. We must continue to contact our State Legislators to keep film jobs in Massachusetts. We will be in touch very soon with the next steps in our advocacy campaign.
Please thank your Senators for their time and support of our industry.
Congratulations, and keep up the great work!