Mayor Karen Bass today applauded the advancement of Assembly Bill 2319 (Schultz) to the State Senate, a crucial step for legislation designed to create a tax credit aimed at retaining film and television post-production work in California. Having previously overseen the passage of California’s initial Film and Television Tax Credit, Mayor Bass has officially supported this bill since its introduction.
"I will fight with everything we have to make sure that our entertainment industry isn't relegated to L.A.'s history, but is a thriving part of our future that puts our next generation to work in good-paying, union jobs," said Mayor Bass. She highlighted aggressive tactics by other states and countries to take jobs away and urged the Senate to pass the legislation, sending it to the Governor's Office to become law.
The Mayor noted that while California’s existing Motion Picture Tax Credit Program helps retain principal photography, it does not extend to post-production, a sector increasingly moving outside Los Angeles and California. Post-production is vital to the state's entertainment economy, supporting thousands of high-skill jobs for editors, sound engineers, visual effects artists, and other professionals. AB 2319 aims to address this gap, helping to sustain economic activity and ensure California remains a global leader in entertainment.
Mayor Bass has a long history of advocating for the industry, including championing last year's expansion of the State Film Tax Credit and calling for a no-cap state film tax credit and federal incentives. Her administration has also implemented Executive Directive 11, which has introduced initiatives such as discounted parking, reduced filming fees at iconic locations like Griffith Observatory and the Central Library, and streamlined city processes for productions. Additionally, the appointment of a Mayor’s Liaison to the Film and Television Industry has further streamlined day-to-day barriers for productions.