The Fate of Florida’s Film and Entertainment Office is Debated

The fate of Florida’s film and entertainment office is under debate as lawmakers consider eliminating the state’s business-recruitment agency and a series of economic-development programs. House Speaker Paul Renner’s priority bill (HB 5) seeks to close the doors on the business-recruitment agency Enterprise Florida, a move that has raised concerns among lawmakers about the Office of Film and Entertainment’s future.

The House Commerce Committee voted 16-3 to move forward with the bill, which would repeal 25 programs and incentives with low returns on investments. Enterprise Florida’s duties would be moved to the Department of Economic Opportunity, leaving the future of the Office of Film and Entertainment uncertain.

Rep. Allison Tant, D-Tallahassee, expressed concern that the office’s repeal could affect Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts. “FSU has an enormously successful, one of the best film schools in the country. We generate a lot of talent from that school,” Tant said. “And furthermore, there are people here, who live here, who were just in the famous movie ‘Where the Crawdads Sing,’ and as well as ‘Bloodline,’ that was done in Florida under all of this. So, these opportunities for us in Florida generate both jobs and commerce.”

Tiffany Esposito, R-Fort Myers, the bill’s sponsor, said programs and incentives targeted for repeal have low returns on investments. However, discussions are ongoing about the fate of the Office of Film and Entertainment, and whether it can be moved over to the Department of Economic Opportunity.

The Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research listed six incentives and investments, from among 29 offered by the state, that provided more than a $1 return for each $1 spent. The Entertainment Industry Sales Tax Exemption program returned 49 cents for each $1 invested, while the Entertainment Industry Financial Incentives Program tax credits drew 7 cents per $1.

Rep. Kristen Arrington, D-Kissimmee, argued that lawmakers should consider more than just the return on investment. Many incentive programs provide “significant benefits” through capital investments, wages, and jobs, she said.

Esposito said the state Revenue Estimating Conference, a panel of economists, is expected to estimate the fiscal impact of the proposed changes before the bill goes to the House Appropriations Committee. The bill will need to clear the Ways & Means Committee before going to the Appropriations Committee.

The proposal would allow the tourist-marketing agency Visit Florida and the Florida Sports Foundation to enter agreements to continue operations under the guidance of the Department of Economic Opportunity. A separate measure also moving in the House seeks to shift programs within Space Florida to the Department of Economic Opportunity and to give the governor more control over Space Florida’s board of directors.

The entertainment industry plays a significant role in Florida’s economy. According to a 2020 report by the Motion Picture Association, the film and television industry supports 92,000 jobs and generates $4.6 billion in wages in the state. Film and television production can also boost tourism and local economies.

The Office of Film and Entertainment works to support the entertainment industry in Florida, providing a range of services to filmmakers, production companies, and other industry professionals. These services include location scouting, permitting, and coordination with local officials, as well as tax incentives and other financial benefits for productions that film in Florida.

If the Office of Film and Entertainment is eliminated, it could have significant consequences for the state’s entertainment industry. Film productions may choose to film elsewhere, which would result in lost jobs and revenue for the state.

Furthermore, Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts could also be affected. The college is one of the best in the country and has produced many talented filmmakers. Without the support of the Office of Film and

The proposed elimination of Florida’s Office of Film and Entertainment has become a contentious issue as the state’s lawmakers are divided on the fate of the office. The office, which seeks to promote and grow the entertainment industry in Florida, is set to be included in a list of programs and incentives that would be repealed if House Speaker Paul Renner’s priority bill (HB 5) is passed. While the proposed repeal has gained support from some lawmakers, others have raised concerns about the potential impact of eliminating the office.

Representative Allison Tant, a Democrat from Tallahassee, was among the lawmakers who voted against the bill, citing the impact the repeal could have on Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts. The school has one of the best film programs in the country and generates a lot of talent, according to Tant. She also pointed out that there are people who live in Florida who have worked on famous movies like “Where the Crawdads Sing” and “Bloodline,” both of which were shot in Florida.

Tant’s concerns were echoed by other lawmakers who believe that the elimination of the office could hurt Florida’s economy. Rep. Kristen Arrington, a Democrat from Kissimmee, argued that lawmakers should consider more than just the return on investment when evaluating incentive programs as many of them provide significant benefits through capital investments, wages, and jobs.

The proposed repeal is part of a larger effort to close the doors on the state’s business-recruitment agency, Enterprise Florida, and eliminate several economic-development programs. HB 5 calls for the repeal of 25 programs and incentives, with Enterprise Florida’s duties being moved to the Department of Economic Opportunity.

Bill sponsor Tiffany Esposito, a Republican from Fort Myers, defended the proposed repeal, arguing that the programs and incentives targeted for repeal have low returns on investment. However, she did acknowledge that discussions are ongoing about the Office of Film and Entertainment and how or if it should be moved over to the Department of Economic Opportunity.

According to a report by the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research, only six incentives and investments, out of 29 offered by the state, provided more than a $1 return for each $1 spent. The Entertainment Industry Sales Tax Exemption program returned 49 cents for each $1 invested, while the Entertainment Industry Financial Incentives Program tax credits drew 7 cents per $1.

The fate of the Office of Film and Entertainment remains uncertain as the bill moves through the legislative process. The state Revenue Estimating Conference, a panel of economists, is expected to estimate the fiscal impact of the proposed changes before the bill goes to the House Appropriations Committee. The bill will need to clear the Ways & Means Committee before going to the Appropriations Committee.

In the meantime, some lawmakers are suggesting alternative solutions that could preserve the Office of Film and Entertainment. For example, Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, a Democrat from Orlando, has proposed a bill that would create a task force to study the economic impact of the film industry in Florida and make recommendations for how the state can support and grow the industry.

The proposed repeal of the Office of Film and Entertainment has sparked a lively debate among Florida lawmakers, with some arguing that the office is essential to the state’s economy, while others believe that it is a low-return program that should be eliminated. As the bill continues to move through the legislative process, it remains to be seen whether the office will be repealed or whether lawmakers will find a way to preserve it.