State lawmakers in Kentucky are pushing for the passage of Senate Bill 1, which aims to boost the state’s economy by making it easier to shoot movies in Kentucky. The bill would create the Kentucky Film Office as part of the state’s Cabinet for Economic Development, with the goal of strengthening the state’s film industry. Senator Phillip Wheeler, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized the potential of Kentucky’s talent, landscapes, and resources to attract filmmakers as a top destination for film production. The office would serve as a central hub for industry coordination, marketing, and workforce development.
The proposed film office would streamline the incentive process and eliminate unnecessary roadblocks, making Kentucky more competitive with other states that have thriving film industries. The state already offers tax incentives for the film industry, but a statewide office would ensure that Kentucky fully capitalizes on these incentives. The office would be led by an executive director chosen through a national search and a seven-member Kentucky Film Leadership Council.
Supporters of the bill, like Lex Studios owner Misdee Wrigley Miller, believe that it would create more job opportunities for Kentuckians across various sectors of the film industry. The bill has passed out of the Senate Economic Development Committee and is now eligible for a vote in the full Senate. If approved by both chambers of the state legislature, the bill would be sent to Governor Andy Beshear for his signature to become law. The move is expected to generate more jobs and income for Kentuckians while boosting the state’s film industry and economy.
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