House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for SB91 - Committee on Commerce
Short Title
Enacting the Kansas film and digital media industry production development act, providing a tax credit, sales tax exemption and loans and grants to incentivize film, video and digital media production in Kansas and establishing a program to be administered by the secretary of commerce for the purpose of developing such production in Kansas.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 2, 2023
Chair Erickson opened the hearing on SB 91.
Staff provided an overview of the bill.
Proponents:
Senator Jeff Pittman spoke in favor of the bill. (Attachment 7) Senator Pittman support investing in a broader footprint of film production and film related workforce development in Kansas. He urged the Committee to strongly consider passing this or an enhanced bill out and providing that spark to help ignite film industry production and workforce here in Kansas.
Senator Molly Baumgardner spoke in favor of the bill. (Attachment 6) She appreciate that the bill includes funding for workforce development and for supporting students and programs in Kansas community colleges, technical colleges and universities, and provided suggestion for amendments should the bill be worked.
Stuart Little with Little Government Relations on behalf of our client Grow Kansas Film (GKF). (Attachment 1) Grow Kansas Film is made up of small businesses, Kansas filmmakers, and educators, all local people. GKF seeks this legislation as an economic development tool to support creative arts and build a strong and lasting workforce in our State.
Max Thomas, co-owner of Lights On, a production rental house here in Kansas and I am also the President of Grow Kansas Film. (Attachment 2) There is a term called "film friendly" environments, it can also apply to states, cities and towns. On behalf of the working people and small businesses in the state of Kansas, and ask that you make Kansas a "film friendly" environment by supporting the bill.
Melanie Addington, Executive Director, Tallgrass Film Association, stated Tallgrass Film Festival is at its most basic level as a place to see films from independent filmmakers, or those outside the traditional Hollywood studio structure.(Attachment 3) Ms. Addington urged the committee to move the bill to the full Senate and vote yes.
Justin Rorabaugh, Director, School of Digital Arts and Shocker Studios, Wichita State University, spoke in support of the bill. (Attachment 4) Passage of the bill will help keep the creative workforce they are developing an training through the applied learning at Wichita State University.
Kevin Willmott, a filmmaker and a Professor in the Film and Media Studies Department of the University of Kansas. (Attachment 5) Young people keep a state alive, and art and culture keep things moving and vigorous, motion picture production brings excitement to a city and a state. It is past time Kansas got in the game with motion pictures.
Rachel Willis, Director of Legislative Affairs at the Kansas Department of Commerce, spoke in support of the bill. (Attachment 8) Projects made in Kansas, showcase the immense artistic and technical talent available within Kansas. This proposal makes Kansas competitive and will result in increased economic impact and additional opportunities for current and future Kansans working in the media industry.
Jim Lane, Jr. Dean - Arts & Design, Humanities & Social Sciences, Johnson County Community College, appeared in favor of the bill. (Attachment 9) Kansas produces incredibly talented and creative professionals who would like to see their home state on a level playing field with other states competing in the film and digital media industries.
Hugh Carter, Vice President, External Affairs, The Chamber Lawrence, Kansas, spoke in favor of the bill. (Attachment 10) The 3,880 Kansas jobs currently supported by the film industry could grow significantly, this measure would incentivize national and local production, grow local local resources and production capacity, and create an environment to keep and grow talent, expand programs, and grow the technological knowledge base.
Erin Brower, Sr. Director Government Affairs, Hallmark Cards, Inc, appeared in favor of the bill. (Attachment 11) The bill would allow us to consider Kansas as a film production site. Without film tax credits, Hallmark is unable to shoot and live with our budget parameters. Tax incentives are the main driver in Hallmarks decision where to shoot and adjust the creative to fit the state with the best tax incentives.
Tisha Swart-Entwistle, Director, First City Film Festival, spoke in favor of the bill. (Attachment 12) Kansas has a long history in the film industry whether considering actors, settings or film plots, with this type of history, interest and potential credits, even at the modest amounts in this bill, can help make a difference.
Written testimony was received in support of the bill by:
Alan Carr, Visit Kansas City Kansas (Attachment 13)
Natalie Bright, Executive Director, on behalf of the Travel Industry Association of Kansas (TIAK) (Attachment 14)
Mitch Robinson, Kansas Economic Development Alliance (Attachment 15)
Kevin Walker, Overland Park Chamber of Commerce (Attachment 16)
Kathy Banuelos, Senior Vice President, State Government Affairs, Motion Picture Association (Attachment 17)
Jason Watkins, on behalf of Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce (Attachment 18)
Dick Carter, Jr., Chamber of Commerce Manhattan, Emporia, Topeka, and Lawrence (METL) (Attachment 19)
Devon Bray, Self, Wichita, Ks (Attachment 20)
Katrina Abraham, Government Affairs, Kansas, The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce (Attachment 21)
Susie Santo, President & CEO Visit Wichita (Attachment 22)
Elle Schneider, Self, Filmmaker (Attachment 23)
Allison Mazzei, President. Kansas Association of Broadcasters (Attachment 24)
Matthew Hall, Political Coordinator Teamsters Joint Council 56 (Attachment 25)
David Parks, Filmmaker (Attachment 26)
Laura Kirk, Self, Lawrence, Ks (Attachment 27)
Kirk Sharp, Executive Director, Gordon Parks Museum Foundation (Attachment 28)
Stephane Shannon, KC Film Office/Grow Kansas Film (Attachment 29)
Celeste C. Lupercio, Director of Marketing and Community Engagement for Visit Kansas City Kansas (Attachment 30)
Justine Begnaud,, Kansas City Native, Film & TV Producer (Attachment 31)
Alan Boyer, Director, Digital Innovation in Media Programs (Attachment 32)
Kathy Nelson, President & CEO, Visit KC (Attachment 33)
Opponent
Gannon Evans, Policy Analyst, Kansas Policy Institute, spoke in opposition to the bill. (Attachment 34) Film subsidies are a box office flop, taxpayer funds are not receiving a return on investment. With much of the money going to out-of-state production companies that will likely leave and look for the next best deal with where to film next. Kansas is a beautiful state and should welcome filmmakers, but not with subsides coming out of taxpayers' wallets that have historically low returns.
Neutral written only
Spencer Duncan, Government Affairs Director, League of Kansas Municipalities (Attachment 35)
Chair Erickson closed the hearing on SB 91.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 am.
