H.B. No. 1452 seeks to bolster film and television production in Texas through the establishment of virtual film production institutes at Texas A&M University and Texas State University, aimed at providing educational opportunities and fostering engagement in the industry. The bill introduces a film events trust fund and a film production tax rebate trust fund to financially support various media productions in the state. It expands the definitions of "film or television production" and "event" to include a broader range of multimedia activities, allowing productions to qualify for funding under the major events reimbursement program. The legislation emphasizes competitive site selection processes and outlines the administration of the new funding programs, including the assessment of tax receipts from various sources related to film events.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws regarding media production development zones and qualified media production locations, extending the maximum duration for designations from two years to four years and introducing new requirements for the nomination process. It broadens the definition of facilities included in these zones to encompass virtual production facilities and allows institutions of higher education to participate as nominating bodies. The bill also streamlines the application process by repealing previous limitations on the number of designations. Overall, these changes aim to enhance support for media production in Texas, promoting economic growth in the sector, with the bill set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 475.0001, Government Code 478.0001, Government Code 478.0051, Government Code 151.3415 (Government Code 151, Government Code 475, Government Code 478)