Texas Is About To Make Movie Magic With $2.5 Billion

As someone who’s watched friends, collaborators, and creative folks across Texas fight for a real shot in the film industry, I can’t help but say it: we just crossed a major milestone. The Texas Senate has officially approved Senate Bill 22, and if it clears the House next, the Lone Star State could be on the verge of a film industry transformation we’ve never seen before.

This isn’t just another bill, it’s $2.5 billion in potential funding over the next decade to make Texas the production powerhouse it’s always had the talent to be. And while it’s not final yet, it’s one hell of a greenlight.

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Why This Is a Big Deal for Texas Creatives

For years, Texas has had a decent but underfunded film incentive program called the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP). It’s helped bring in projects, sure, but we’ve always lagged behind states like Georgia and New Mexico that went all-in. That may finally be changing.

SB 22 would create a dedicated fund, $500 million every two years, to support qualifying productions like film, TV, video games, and animation. That money would go directly to projects that spend their budgets in Texas and hire local crews. According to the Lieutenant Governor, every $1 invested returns nearly $5 into the state economy. That’s not just good math, it’s a jobs machine.

But the bill goes even deeper: it lowers the requirement for Texas-based cast and crew to 35% (phasing back up to 50% over time), making it easier for big productions to shoot here while still prioritizing local talent. That’s key because growth in this industry has to mean growth for Texans first.

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There’s Still Work to Do and Some BIG Red Flags

We’re not at the finish line yet. The bill still has to pass the Texas House, and even if it does, there are parts that deserve close scrutiny.

For one, the Governor’s Office would still have broad discretion to deny projects it doesn’t like including those that portray Texas in a “negative” light. That kind of vague language can be a slippery slope for artists and storytellers who want to tell the truth about our complex, diverse state.

There’s also been a new amendment thrown in that prioritizes faith-based media for additional grant support. Whether that’s inspiring or concerning probably depends on who you ask but it’s something to keep an eye on, especially if the goal is to welcome a wide range of stories.

Still, for filmmakers, crew workers, editors, prop designers, and yes, even future stars, this is the closest thing we’ve had to a true industry investment in a long time.

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Texas Deserves a Spotlight

El Paso alone has been home to stunning film talent and stories worth telling, but we’ve lacked infrastructure, funding, and opportunity. If this bill makes it through, that changes. We’re talking studios hiring full-time crews, students staying in Texas to make movies, and small towns seeing their Main Streets turned into sets.

If the House passes SB 22, we’re not just putting Texas on the map, we’re setting the stage for a statewide production renaissance.

Let’s get this across the finish line. Let’s make some movie magic.