Bossier State Senator Adam Bass(R) filed Senate Bill 232. This bill also eliminates the automatic Motion Picture Production Tax Credit effective June 30, 2025. This bill empowers Louisiana Economic Development agency (LED) to establish rules and regulations for any future tax credits beginning on July 1, 2025.
The bill mandates LED to consider discretionary factors in approving applications including but not limited to estimated economic impact, disbursement of funding statewide, availability of funding and the best interest of the state. Thus, each motion picture must be separately approved for any tax credits.
Bass's bill passed the Senate by a unanimous vote. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for approval. Gov. Jeff Landry supports SB 232, and it is expected to be passed by the Republican controlled House is expected to pass this bill.
Assuming SB 232 is enacted into law, the impact on the film production plans of Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson will be a matter of speculation. To date, Jackson has made many, many promises but yet has not even filmed a commercial in Shreveport. Despite two meetings by Jackson with Landry, one can expect the Governor and LED to impose strict requirements on Jackson if he pursues tax credits under SB 232.