Ohio film tax credit supporters urge $75 million cap and no sunset to build jobs and retain students

Scott Titsworth, dean at Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication (testifying as an individual), told the Senate Finance Committee that setting the Ohio motion picture and entertainment tax credit at $75 million per year with no sunset and expanding workforce provisions would help the state attract productions and provide career pathways for students.

“Higher tax credit could unlock that,” Titsworth said, citing Georgia’s experience where higher, durable incentives helped the industry grow and generated local infrastructure. He said Ohio trains roughly 200 students annually in related fields, and that alumni often leave for Los Angeles because local production opportunities are limited.

Nut graf: testimony advocated for a durable, predictable tax incentive and workforce development to encourage studios and post‑production businesses to base operations in Ohio, which witnesses argued would multiply economic impact and create jobs for graduates.

Senators asked about infrastructure and the effect of AI on production. Titsworth said AI will change production tasks but not eliminate human creative direction and acting; he also told Senator Chavez that Ohio needs long‑term signals (e.g., no sunset) to attract large studio investment and that an unlimited cap like Georgia’s creates certainty for infrastructure projects.

Ending: supporters asked the committee to adopt higher, long‑term credits and workforce development language to make Ohio competitive for motion picture and entertainment production; the committee did not take a formal vote during the hearing.