Should Rhode Island allow movie productions to use state tax credits even if a majority of the production is not done in the state?

PBN Staff

03/06/2020

REP. MARVIN L. ABNEY, at left, has proposed a bill, recently passed by the House, that wold broaden the state’s motion picture tax credit program, in an effort to attract larger films and documentary productions. At right is Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello. / PBN FILE PHOTO ELI SHERMAN. — REP. MARVIN L. ABNEY, at left, sponsored a bill passed by the House that would broaden the state’s motion picture tax credit program, in an effort to attract larger films and documentary productions. At right is House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello. / PBN FILE PHOTO ELI SHERMAN.

State lawmakers have approved bills in the House and Senate allowing movie productions to use state tax credits even if the majority of the production is not done in Rhode Island.

The state’s motion-picture incentive program provides tax credits worth 30% of a production’s in-state expenses. Legislation passed by both chambers would eliminate a requirement that more than half of the production be filmed in Rhode Island, if the productions are big enough to have at least $10 million in spending.

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Proponents cite local jobs created by these productions and a higher profile for the state and its many attractions.

But critics have complained that detailed jobs data isn’t always provided by recipients of the credits and that the state often loses money on the them.