Texas $200m film tax incentive approved by lawmakers

Texas lawmakers have approved a $200m budget to increase film and TV production in the US state.

$45 million was previously allocated for promoting the film industry through its Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program.

A bill by Rep. Craig Goldman of the city of Fort Worth to lower to the percentage of Texas residents required on certain production crews from 70% to 55% was also approved.

The aim is to encourage large film production companies to come to Texas.

The film incentives were part of a $321.3bn two-year state budget that lawmakers sent to Governor Greg Abbott.

He has yet to sign the budget into effect and could still alter individual provisions via item-by-item vetoes.

According to Fort Worth Report, he "has shown no signs of unfriendliness toward the film incentives."

Jessica Christopherson, vice president of marketing and film commissioner for Visit Fort Worth, said: "In Fort Worth, we’ve lost productions to Oklahoma and Ohio and Canada in recent years."

The increase in incentives means "more productions come to Texas, the workforce will continue to build and grow, resulting in more jobs and opportunities," she added.