By F. Hudson Miller
Working on getting the California Post-Production Tax Credit bill passed has been an odyssey. Now, as the fate of this legislation hangs in the balance, I want to take a few minutes to explain the process, why it matters, and how you can help us win this fight.
California’s post-production business has been on a steep decline since 2022. Local 700’s California membership has shrunk more than 15 percent in the last four years, a loss of more than 1,100 hardworking, middle-class members. These are our brothers, sisters, and kin, talented artists and craftspeople whose lives have been upended by the employment crisis within our industry. We can’t pretend that this tax credit — AB 2319 — will solve all of California’s post-production problems, but it’s a solid start.
The Editors Guild is no stranger to standalone post-production tax bills. In 2010, we joined forces with Post New York Alliance to support the enactment of the New York Post-Production Tax Credit. In the last 15 years, the New York tax credit has successfully increased employment for our New York members. In June of last year, the state of New Jersey passed its own post tax credit, which is expected to improve employment for our members in that state.
While we have been very successful in advancing AB2319 through the legislative process, we still face the real possibility that the bill could die before summer’s end. Politics is a funny business, where the difference between victory and defeat can hinge on a single vote of a single legislator on a single committee. While we are absolutely committed to advancing the tax credit legislation to Governor Newsom’s desk and watching him sign it into law, we also fully understand that temporary defeat remains a real possibility.
Another possible outcome is that the AB2319 is enacted, but without funding. So what happens to a bill with no implementation funding? Not much. It sits on the books, waiting, hoping to be funded at another time. If that happens, we are prepared to redouble our efforts when the 2026-2027 Legislature is seated on December 1.
Miller speaking at an April 2026 press
conference about AB2319.
Because so much of this process has been driven by the California Legislature’s calendar, there hasn’t been time to explain in detail how the legislative process works, let alone how we plan to pass and fund the bill. One member of our Political Engagement Committee described it best: “It’s like writing the script and shooting the footage after the film is already in post!”
In brief, here’s how AB2319 went from concept to concrete legislation aimed at creating solid middle-class union jobs in California.
The day I was sworn in as president of the Editors Guild in January, I was introduced to Marielle Abaunza of the newly formed California Post Alliance (CAPA). She was eager to tell me about CAPA and their plan to introduce legislation for a California standalone post-production tax incentive.
Weeks later, California Assemblymember Nick Schultz (who represents Burbank and the surrounding area) introduced the bill. On April 6, after extensive meetings with Schultz and CAPA, the Editors Guild announced our support of the bill in principle; however, we conditioned our support upon the inclusion of “improved labor standards” language. In short, we needed language added to the bill supporting strong middle-class union jobs, jobs that would meet prevailing industry wages and benefits (including health insurance and a pension plan).
That same day, National Executive Director Scott George, Vice President Shiran Miller, and I flew to Sacramento to lobby state legislators on behalf of our members. Armed with thousands of letters from you and the personal testimonies of your brothers, sisters, and kin, we successfully pressed for the bipartisan passage of a California tax incentive. Wave after wave of emails and phone calls flooded three Assembly committees. As a result, AB2319 passed all three committees (8-0), (6-1), (15-0), as well as an Assembly floor vote (73-3)! By the end of May, the bill was headed to the State Senate.
The Guild’s “Spring
Into Action” event for the bill in April
Act Two began with further negotiations for “improved labor standards” language and the delivery of thousands more letters, as well as our members’ personal testimonies to State Senators. On June 24, Assemblymember Schultz presented the amended bill to the Senate Committee on Revenue and Taxation. He explained that states like New York and New Jersey, and the countries of Canada and Australia, among others, offer lucrative post-production tax breaks. “I hate to say it, but California is a little late to the game on this one,” he added.
Miller speaks up for AB2319 in Sacramento
With the required “improved labor standards” in place, I stated unequivocally to senators that the Motion Picture Editors Guild “loudly, proudly, and without reservation, co-sponsors this bill.” With Local 700’s backing in place, California State Senators Ben Allen (Los Angeles) and Tim Grayson (Concord) agreed to become Senate co-authors of the bill. Concurrently, the California IATSE Council, representing 54,000 California IATSE rank-and-file workers, announced its support of AB2319. The bill passed out of committee on a 4-0 vote and was forwarded to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Graphic showing the steps the
bill must take for passage
By the time you read this column, the California Legislature will have returned from its summer recess and will be busy passing the final bills of the 2025-2026 legislative session. On August 13, the seven-person Senate Appropriations Committee will decide whether the post bill will move forward to a Senate floor vote. Also to be determined will be the future of the bill’s $100 million annual funding request.
If AB2319 passes out of the Senate by August 28, the Guild’s first adventure into high-stakes politics will be approaching its climax. The focus will dramatically shift to Governor Newsom, who will have until September 30 to either accept or veto. If AB2319 is still standing in September, the Editors Guild will be pulling out all the stops to lobby Governor Newsom.
Every step of the way, Scott George and I have asked you to write letters and make phone calls to both the California Legislature and Governor Newsom’s office. We have been doing this for one simple reason: because it works. For California state lawmakers to keep their jobs, they must remain responsive to their constituencies. I witnessed this firsthand while testifying before the Senate Committee on Revenue and Taxation in June. As I held up a fistful of member letters, Senator Grayson signaled that he would sign on as a Senate coauthor of AB2319.
Remember: if AB2319 does not pass in this legislative session, it is a setback — but not a defeat. The Editors Guild remains committed to AB2319 and will continue to fight for it and for our members in the new legislative session.
Help us fight to bring post-production jobs back to California. Our members don’t need a handout; they need an opportunity to compete fairly on a level playing field. A post-production tax credit will help level that field. The voices of our members are loud and clear, and our lawmakers are listening.
F. Hudson Miller is President of Motion Picture Editors Guild.
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