AB2319 Advances to Assembly Floor, Boosting Momentum for California Post-Production Tax Incentive

By Guild Staff

Assembly Bill 2319 — legislation aimed at establishing a standalone post-production tax incentive in California — has advanced out of the Appropriations Committee and will now move to a floor vote before the full Assembly in Sacramento. The milestone marks a significant step forward for a proposal designed to help a post-production industry that is still struggling to get back on its feet after industry upheaval and media consolidation, and jobs being lost to overseas competition.

The bill — authored by Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D–Burbank), and backed by the California Post Alliance — seeks to strengthen California’s film and television post-production sector by creating a targeted tax incentive that could deliver up to $100 million in support for post-production work. The measure comes at a time when many picture, sound and visual effects editors, and other post workers who do finishing work, continue to face reduced opportunities as productions take advantage of more aggressive incentives elsewhere.

The Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 700, has been a leading advocate for the legislation, mobilizing members and industry allies in an extensive grassroots campaign that included thousands of letters to lawmakers.

“We are pleased and proud to see legislation creating a post-production tax incentive move forward,” said Guild President F. Hudson Miller. “Too many of the thousands of California post professionals are struggling while work in their crafts has been lured elsewhere.”

“California needs legislation like this to level the playing field,” Miller added. “We will continue to work with Assemblymember Schultz, other lawmakers, and our industry stakeholders and partners to move this bill over the finish line and establish a program that helps bring back our members’ jobs.”

The Editors Guild Political Engagement Committee also pointed to the campaign as a clear example of member-driven advocacy making an impact in Sacramento.

“Amplifying our members’ voices made a big difference — more than 3,200 letters were sent to lawmakers by members and allies standing up for post-production jobs and the future of our industry in California,” the Committee said.

“This illustrates that civic engagement energizes our union and makes us all ‘Post Proud,’” the statement continued.

The committee illustrated that there are several steps ahead before the legislation has a chance to become law. “While today is a win to celebrate, the road ahead is still long. We will continue to need member engagement, lobbying, letter writing, phone calls, and solidarity to help move this bill forward,” said the committee.

If approved by the full Assembly, AB2319 will move to the State Senate for further consideration, with supporters aiming to ultimately place the measure on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk later this year.

The full statement from the Political Engagement Committee is here:

Dear Local 700 members,

– The Political Engagement Committee