Senate committee approves bill to create Kentucky film office, funded by a small share of transient tax and production fees

Frankfort — The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development, Tourism and Labor voted to adopt a committee substitute and report Senate Bill 1, which would establish a Kentucky Film Commission to market the state to film and television productions, hire an executive director, and administer production scoring and incentives.

Sen. Philip Wheeler, the bill sponsor and chair of the committee, said the commission would build on Kentucky’s existing film tax-credit structure and use seed funding from a small portion of the state’s transient (hotel/motel) tax — capped at $500,000 annually — plus application fees to make the office self-sustaining as production grows. "If we get a full time film director, and a commission... there's no reason why Kentucky can't become the next Georgia," Wheeler said.

Testimony from producers and local industry leaders emphasized economic and workforce benefits. Mary Kay Poe, a producer and local partner in the Louisville Garden Soundstage project, told the committee that an accessible state-hosted locations database and a staffed film office make it easier for location scouts and producers to find and plan shoots across urban and rural Kentucky.

Misty Wrigley Miller, owner of LEC Studios and Wrigley Media Group in Lexington, said production activity already supports jobs and training in the state and that a dedicated film office would act as a "megaphone" to attract more work: "We have been growing production... If we could have full use of our crews... the film office would do that for us," she said.

Supporters cited a University of Louisville economic impact study included in the committee packet that estimated a $200 million industry impact in 2022 with roughly $27 million in tax revenue and an additional estimated $128 million in spillover activity. Sponsors said improved marketing and a staffed commission could increase that footprint and spur jobs, including in rural regions where on-location production could bring new economic activity.

Committee members broadly praised the proposal as an economic-development and tourism tool, with Sen. Thomas calling it "one of the most beneficial economic development directions that Kentucky can take." Several members noted the potential to attract festivals, sound stages and training programs and asked staff about long-term workforce development and scoring criteria the commission would use to evaluate applications.

The committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported with a favorable recommendation. Committee members and industry witnesses requested that the commission include a transparent scoring rubric to ensure a measurable return on investment for state incentives and that it coordinate with local education and training programs to supply crews and local services.

Votes at a glance: SB 1 (committee substitute) — reported with favorable expression; committee recorded voice votes and explanations during roll call sequence (final passage in committee announced as "passes with favorable expression").

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