MFA Legislative Priorities

Strengthen Minnesota’s Existing Incentive Programs

The Film Production Tax Credit, passed in 2021, is currently the smallest tax credit program in the U.S. It has a very short four year sunset and a cap of $5 million per year on available credits. We will advocate for removing or extending the tax credit to at least 10 years and for raising the amount of credits available to $25 million per year in order to increase our competitiveness, and bring larger budgeted projects to the state.

The Film Production Rebate Program, established in 1997, has been funded at $500,000 per fiscal year in recent years. This program is vital to the continued growth of Minnesota’s industry as it supports lower budget projects and Minnesota’s commercial industry. We will advocate for the continuation of and increased funding for this program.

Additionally, as Minnesota is the only state that allows a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (MN Film & TV) to do the vital economic development work of a state film agency, we are looking to create the Minnesota Film Commission. More than 40 states have Film Commissions that are part of the state’s economic development, commerce, or tourism department. Establishing a Minnesota Film Commission will provide direct oversight of the programs and will allow the commission to be focused, spending time on outreach, selling the program, and developing the community.

Georgia’s Success Story Can Be A Model for Minnesota

Georgia is a leading model for the positive impacts possible for communities when investing in the motion picture industry utilizing the transferable tax incentive.

In 2008, the state legislature passed the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act, which allows productions up to a 30% tax credit for their qualified spending in the state.

Since enacting the tax credit, the economic impact of the film and TV production industry in Georgia has grown from $241 million to $9.5 billion.

Pennsylvania Has A Thriving Production Economy and Employment Because Of Its Tax Credit

Pennsylvania’s 25% tax credit for film and TV production resulted in $525.6 million in direct spending in the state for fiscal year 2017/2018.

Since enacting the tax credit in 2007, Pennsylvania’s industry has created an estimated 21,000 jobs and spurred $2.6 billion in direct spending.