A House committee has approved a bill with guidelines for a limited revival of state incentives for movies and T-V shows filmed in Iowa, but the original version has been altered. The plan no longer requires that actors be Iowa residents in order for the project to be eligible for the program. Representative Chuck Isenhart of Dubuque, a Democrat, backs the bill, but he says that part seems contrary to the goal.
Under the bill, production companies could be eligible for a rebate worth up to 30 percent of the project’s expenses, but only five million dollars in rebates would be available in each of the next two years. Republican Representative Brent Siegrist of Council Bluffs says it doesn’t matter who the stars of the movie are, it’s what the production spends in Iowa that’s important.
Fifteen years ago the State of Iowa cancelled its film tax credit program after auditors found the majority of credits were misused and some Iowa vendors were never paid. Republican Representative Jane Bloomingdale of Northwood says she’s confident the program’s second run can be successful.
All 24 members of the House Ways and Means Committee voted for the bill Wednesday and it’s now eligible for debate in the 100-member Iowa House.
