Senate committee adopts bill creating tax credits to recruit film festivals as Sundance eyes move to Boulder

House Bill 10005, which would create tax incentives aimed at attracting film festivals to Colorado, was adopted by the Senate committee of the whole on March 26, 2025, and reported to the floor for further consideration.

Senator Bazely, a sponsor, told the committee the measure was intended to position Colorado to host major festivals if they relocate. "We have a phenomenal opportunity in Colorado that would benefit, the entire state, and that is that the Sundance Festival ... is looking to relocate," Bazely said during debate.

The bill sets up refundable corporate income tax credits that sponsors described as performance-based. "They have to prove that they earned every penny that they get in a tax credit," Senator Amabile said in response to budget questions, emphasizing that the credits are contingent on demonstrated qualification.

Supporters told the committee the incentives could produce economic activity for Boulder and the Front Range, directing spending to hotels, restaurants and the local arts economy. Sponsors said the proposal would support a 10-year hosting commitment if a festival such as Sundance were to relocate to Colorado; competing finalist cities named in debate included Cincinnati and Salt Lake City. Specific dollar amounts or caps on the credits were not specified in the committee record.

The committee took the bill up as a special order and adopted it by voice vote; the motion was recorded as adopted and the committee rose and reported the bill to the full Senate. The clerk read the bill title in committee as "House bill 10005 by representatives Duran and Teton and senators Amabile and Bazely concerning the creation of tax incentives to support the film festival industry." The committee action places HB10005 on the calendar for further consideration by the full Senate.

No formal roll-call vote tally for the committee action was recorded in the transcript; the committee adoption was announced by voice vote. Debate in committee included sponsor remarks about the cultural and economic benefits and assurances from sponsors that the credit is conditional and performance-based. The transcript did not record formal opposition or amendments during the committee consideration.

If the bill advances from the Senate floor, additional details on eligibility, credit caps, certification and fiscal impact would be expected to appear in subsequent committee reports and fiscal notes.

Article provenance: Excerpts of the committee title reading, sponsor remarks, and the announcement of adoption are captured in the transcript segments linked below.