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Minutes for SB52 - Committee on Commerce
Short Title
Enacting the Kansas film and digital media industry production development act, providing a tax credit and sales tax exemption to incentivize film, video and digital media production in Kansas, establishing a program to be administered by the secretary of commerce for the purpose of developing such production in Kansas and requiring the secretary of commerce to issue reports to the legislature regarding the program.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 4, 2025
Chair Alley opened the hearing on SB 52.
Staff provided a overview of the bill.(Attachment 1)
Proponents
Stuart Little with Little Government Relations on behalf of our client Grow Kansas Film (GKF) The bill creates the Kansas Film and Digital Media Production Development Act. (Attachment 2) The Act provides tax incentives for eligible projects produced in Kansas for the purpose of developing the film and digital media industry in Kansas.
Kristen 'Kiki' Bush, Kansas filmmaker, provided testimony in favor of the bill. (Attachment 3)
Justin Rorabaugh, Director of Wichita State University's School of Digital Arts (SODA) and Socker Studios spoke in favor of the bill. (Attachment 4) Mr. Rorabaugh stated with the passage of the bill you can help keep the creative workforce we are developing and training through the applied learning at Wichita State University right here in Kansas. Let's make Kansas a state people want to come to, rather than a training ground that fosters high-end talent and then sends them away.
Justin Begnaud, film producer, appeared in favor of the bill. (Attachment 5) Mr. Begnaud stated finding a location with a tax incentive is a win-win for the producer. Kansas has not had a significant tax incentive in over 10 years, and because of this, our beautiful state, with gorgeous locations, and hardworking crews have simply been overlooked.
Shawn Rhodes, Director of Digial Services, R3Store Studios US, Wichita, Kansas, spoke in support of the bill. (Attachment 6) Mr. Rhodes stated that without the bill passing we will be at a disadvantage to our surrounding states.Allow filmmakers to have a level playing field so that they might compete with their skills and talent instead of forcing them to leave to get a job in another state working their craft.
Written testimony in support of the bill was provided by:
Rachel Willis, Director of Legislative Affairs, Kansas Department of Commerce (Attachment 7)
Paul Dechant, Filmaker (Attachment 8)
Max Thomas, co-owner of Lights On (Attachment 9)
Joshua Wexler, Chief Executive Of Fun, Pure Imagination Studios, Inc. (Attachment 10)
Juliet Abdel, MS, IOM, President, SVP Government Affairs, Greater Topeka Chamber (Attachment 11)
Katrina Abraham, KC Chamber (Attachment 12)
Natalie Bright, Executive Director, Travel Industry Association of Kansas (TIAK) (Attachment 13)
Mitch Robinson, President, Kansas Economic Development Alliance (Attachment14)
Alan Carr, Executive Director, Visit Kansas City Kansas(Attachment 15)
Neutral (written only)
Spencer Duncan, Government Affairs Director, League of Kansas Municipalities (Attachment 16)
Chair Alley closed the hearing on SB 52.
The next meeting is February 5, 2025. The meeting was adjourned 2:22 pm.
