Mayor Bass Applauds Newsom for Signing Film Tax Credit Bills She Sponsored

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement today applauding Governor Gavin Newsom for signing AB 186 (Zbur and Allen) and AB 2319 (Schultz), two bills she sponsored that protect and expand California's film and television tax credit and create the state's first post-production tax incentive.

"This is an historic day for Hollywood," Bass said. "I want to thank Governor Newsom for continuing to be a champion of LA's entertainment industry and joining us in our work to ensure that Los Angeles remains the entertainment capital of the world."

AB 2139 will create California's first post-production tax incentive. According to the release, the work done by film editors, visual effects artists, composers, colorists and other skilled workers is critical to the entertainment industry, but did not qualify for the existing expanded State Film and TV Tax Credit until now. Bass officially supported the legislation when it was introduced, noting that without a competitive incentive, California risks losing its talented post-production workforce to other states. Earlier this month, she called on Newsom to sign it.

AB 186 would protect California's Film and Television Tax Credit Program by eliminating the tax credit cap for independent studios and providing faster cash refunds for big studios.

Bass said the bills strengthen the State's current Film and TV tax credit, which she fought to double to a historic $750 million, and create a new incentive to protect and support thousands of post-production workers across the state and city.

"I want to thank Senator Ben Allen, Assemblymember Rick Zbur, and Assemblymember Nick Schultz for championing these pieces of legislation and working with my Office to ensure these bills became law," Bass said.

Bass, who oversaw passage of the inaugural Film and TV Tax Credit Program as Speaker of the State Assembly, said she is now fighting for a no-cap state tax credit and the creation of the first federal film incentive. Under her Executive Directive 11, filming fees at the Griffith Observatory have been cut by 70%, the Central Library has reopened for filming after more than a decade, and the Port of Los Angeles has halved its filming application review time.

"I will always fight for our unparalleled creative workforce and to ensure that Los Angeles remains the home of Hollywood," Bass said.