House modernizes film tax incentive, combines film and TV credits and preserves current sunset for review
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Summary
The House perfected and printed a committee substitute to modernize the MOFILM incentive by combining separate film and TV 'buckets' into one flexible pool; an adopted floor amendment kept the current sunset date in place while sponsors said they will evaluate performance before extending the program further.
The Missouri House advanced a modernization of the state's film and television tax incentive program, moving to combine separate film and TV credit pools into a single, flexible allocation but adopting an amendment to retain the existing sunset.
The bill sponsor (Representative from Saint Charles, S18) described the change as an administrative modernization requested by industry: instead of two $8 million buckets for film and television, the proposal would create a single pool so productions could use available credits as needed. The sponsor cited program metrics in support of the effort: "54 productions in 2024 and 2025 have come to the state of Missouri," and "$40,700,000 spent on filming in our state," adding that the program has returned a stated 38% return on investment. He said the modernization is intended to make Missouri more competitive with other states and that an amendment would be offered to preserve the existing sunset for further performance evaluation.
Members discussed workforce development, cap sizes and administrative mechanics. A member asked whether the credits are subject to appropriation and the sponsor replied that credits are pushed out as applications are approved under the authorized cap; a clarification was recorded that the program operates under the caps established by the 2023 reauthorization. Another member urged linking the incentive to workforce development and rural production bonuses; the sponsor and supporters said the program helps retain local talent and build production pipelines.
Floor amendment number 1 — which retained the current 2029 sunset rather than extending it to 2036 — was adopted by voice vote. The committee substitute for House Bills 2142 and 2058 was adopted, perfected and printed on the floor after discussion and amendment. Sponsors said the package had moved through relevant committees with bipartisan support and could proceed toward the Senate.
The transcript records voice adoption and committee/perfection actions but does not include a roll call tally for final enactment during this floor excerpt.
