July 21, 2023

The Fort Worth business community secured several public policy wins during the regular session of the 88^th Legislature, such as the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act (HB 5), key infrastructure funding, property tax relief, and a boost to Texas community colleges to more adequately prepare the state’s workforce. To inform the business community of other legislative wins, the Chamber will be highlighting a variety of bills that became law this past session. Next up on the list: enhanced film incentives. 

Texas – and specifically the Fort Worth area – has seen a recent increase in film production with major productions like Taylor Sheridan’s various projects. Yet this was despite Texas being at a competitive disadvantage with other states in the portfolio of incentives offered for media production projects. Many films and TV shows that take place in Texas are filmed out of state, taking jobs, investment, and local spending to Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico instead of Texas. 

Earlier this year at the beginning of the legislative session, the Fort Worth Film Commission hosted an event featuring Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and Taylor Sheridan. It was a special screening for Sheridan’s “1883” series, and also served as a pitch for enhanced incentives in Texas. Sheridan discussed the jobs created by his productions; from staging construction to costume design and production technicians. 

Last biennium (2022-2023), the Texas Legislature budgeted $45 million for film incentives. However, that funding was exhausted within the first six months of the two-year period, leaving Texas without the ability to remain competitive with other states that offer more robust incentives.  

But this budget cycle, the Texas Legislature more than quadrupled the state’s total incentive allotment to $200 million. The increased incentives will be a win not just for the state of Texas, but for the growing film industry in Fort Worth. Jobs, investment, and workforce talent that previously needed to seek opportunities out of state or more likely to remain in Texas and continue contributing to our economic growth. 

Fort Worth State Representative Craig Goldman and the Fort Worth Film Commission worked incredibly hard to tell the story of what increased incentives could mean for our region, and they deserve credit for helping to get this funding across the finish line during the legislative session. 

Top Headlines 

National 

• Axios | CPI report shows inflation falling to 3%, lowest since March 2021 
• U.S. Chamber | U.S. Chamber Wins Big for Business at the U.S. Supreme Court 
• Roll Call | Bipartisan efforts on child tax credit afoot in House 
• Wall Street Journal | U.S. Companies Score Partial Reprieve From Global Minimum Tax Deal 

State and Local 

• Tribune | Texas lawmakers end acrimony-filled special session with more work to come 
• Morning News | Texas has set aside $200M of incentives towards media production. How did we get here?  
• Community Impact | Fort Worth mayor pro tem to head Regional Transportation Council 
• Dallas Business Journal | Meet Steve Montgomery, the Fort Worth Chamber's new president and CEO 

Upcoming Dates 

• July 27: Fort Worth ISD Back-to-School Hiring Extravaganza [More info] 
• August 7: Rep. Beth Van Duyne North Texas Job Fair [More info] 
• August 17: State of the County Luncheon featuring Tarrant County Judge Time O’Hare [More info] 
• September 7: Leaders in Government featuring Congressman Roger Williams [More info] 
• October 6: Mayor Mattie Parker’s State of the City [More info]