Bipartisan Lawmakers Hail Increase Of PA Film Production Tax Credit Cap

HARRISBURG — Two southeastern Pennsylvania legislators from opposite sides of the political aisle are praising the passage of a bill that increased the cap for the film and television production tax credit here in the Keystone State.

State Rep. Joe Ciresi, a Montgomery County Democrat, and State Rep. Kathleen "K.C." Tomlinson, a Bucks County Republican, are hailing the raising of the tax credit cap from $70 million to $100 million.

The two representatives were behind House Bill 1432, which sought to expand the film production tax credit's cap because, as they stated, Pennsylvania was losing out on film productions to other states due to the limitations of the commonwealth's program.

"Thanks to our legislative push, the budget increased the cap from $70 million to $100 million, making Pennsylvania a more attractive place for television productions in which to film," Ciresi said in a statement. "Fostering the film industry in Pennsylvania will have a tremendous positive economic impact on the commonwealth through job creation and by generating economic activity in host communities, bringing local and state benefits."

Tomlinson, in her own statement, said that the film and television production tax credit is an "economic engine that fuels job growth throughout the commonwealth."

"Our state is a magnet for film production due to our history and natural beauty," Tomlinson stated. "But we must still compete with other states. Increasing the Film Industry Incentive will give us an advantage and encourage more projects to come to our state, and that will have a larger economic impact on the commonwealth."

The House Democratic Communications Office, citing the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, noted that around 860 applicants have applied to the program, and 509 film and/or television productions were approved for and awarded tax credits, between 2007, which is when the program began, through the end of the 2019-20 fiscal year.

The office stated that during that time, those film and TV productions directly injected close to $3.3 billion into Pennsylvania's economy; generated around $5.2 billion in total economic activity and $785 million in total state and local taxes; and supported around 30,650 full-time equivalent jobs.

Some notable film and television productions that benefited from the tax credit program include Mare of Easttown, which was filmed in Philadelphia, Delaware and Chester Counties; Creed, which was filmed in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties; Southpaw, which was filmed in Indiana, Washington and Allegheny Counties; and Unstoppable, which was filmed in Allegheny, Blair, Beaver, Cameron, Centre and McKean Counties, among other projects.

More about the tax credit program can be found here.