Rep. Whitesides Pushes for a National Film Tax Credit to Bring Production Jobs Back to Santa Clarita and the Antelope Valley

WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, Rep. George Whitesides (CA-27) announced his cosponsorship of the bipartisan, bicameral Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. The bill would create a national film tax credit to bring film and television production, and the crew, trades and small-business jobs that come with it, back to the United States.

"Our region is at the heart of film and television production, and we owe it to the hardworking crews who live in our area to bring American production home," said Rep. Whitesides. "This bipartisan bill invests in the people, sound stages, movie sets, and scenery we have right here in our backyard, and gives productions an incentive to keep good-paying jobs in Southern California. I'll keep fighting alongside this bipartisan coalition to make sure our local film economy is able to thrive."

In 2019, Santa Clarita issued a record 576 film permits for 1,490 days of location filming, generating an estimated $35.9 million for the local economy. In 2025, the city issued 338 permits, generating an estimated $14.6 million, a drop of nearly 60%. Across the region permitted by FilmLA, which includes Palmdale and the unincorporated communities of north Los Angeles County, on-location shoot days fell 16% from 2024 to 2025, and television shooting ran 50% below its five-year average. Nationwide, more than 100,000 production jobs have disappeared since October 2022 as 65 countries now offer incentives to lure American productions overseas.

Under the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act:

• Feature films, TV pilots, and TV seasons costing more than $1 million earn a 20% credit on American labor costs if at least 75% of filming takes place in the U.S.
• Productions earn bonus credits of 5% each, up to 30% total, for filming in rural opportunity zones or disaster areas, for independent productions, for hiring across 10 or more states, and for bringing work home from overseas.
• Post-production and visual effects work done in the U.S. qualifies.
• The credit is transferable, so independent producers who don't owe enough in taxes can sell it for cash up front.
• The credit applies to productions beginning in taxable years after December 31, 2026.

The legislation is led in the House by Representatives Laura Friedman (CA-30), Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Brian Jack (GA-03), David Kustoff (TN-08), Judy Chu (CA-28), Mike Carey (OH-15) and Tom Suozzi (NY-03), and in the Senate by Senators Tim Scott (SC) and Adam Schiff (CA). It is endorsed by the American Federation of Musicians, ASCAP, Coalition for American Production, CreativeFuture, Directors Guild of America, FilmUSA, Independent Film and Television Alliance, IATSE, Motion Picture Association, Paramount, Producers Guild of America, SAG-AFTRA, Teamsters, Television Academy, Writers Guild of America East, and Writers Guild of America West.

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