Bipartisan push for federal film tax credit could mean huge boost for Oklahoma productions
LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) - A bipartisan push in Washington to bring Hollywood productions back to American soil could soon deliver a major economic boost right here in Oklahoma.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are developing legislation to create a 20% federal tax credit for movies and television shows filmed in the United States. Backed by a newly formed coalition of studios and union leaders, the first-of-its-kind national incentive is designed to stop productions from fleeing abroad and restore hundreds of thousands of American jobs.
A new economic impact study shows a federal incentive could support an average of 143,500 full-time jobs across the country each year and pump billions of dollars into domestic economies.
Competing on a global stage
For decades, foreign countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia have lured big-budget projects away from the U.S. with aggressive national tax rebates.
Brian Papworth, executive director of the Coalition for American Production, pointed out how far that migration has gone.
“[It’s] so ridiculous that a show that’s as American as ‘Little House on the Prairie’ is shot in Canada. And this is solely due to the incentives that are offered,” Papworth said. “The film and TV industry, and I’ve been doing this for over 30 years, in a nutshell is a multi-billion dollar factory on wheels.”
Former Universal senior executive Kenneth Nowling explained that finding ways to cut costs is just part of the modern business model.
“The industry itself is looking for areas to shoot to save money. Now that’s just tax credits and different avenues—that’s a normal thing,” Nowling said. “However, I just think that the content creators and filmmakers in these towns have great opportunities to make content in their cities.”
Why Oklahoma stands to win
Oklahoma has already made a name for itself on the big screen, hosting major projects like Twisters and Reservation Dogs through the Filmed in Oklahoma Act, which offers rebates for hiring local crews and filming in rural communities.
Under the federal proposal, the 20% national credit would “stack” right on top of existing state incentives. It could also include extra bonuses for filming in rural areas or spending thresholds that reward productions utilizing multiple states.
Supporters stress that the economic ripples reach far beyond Hollywood stars and directors. When a production rolls into town, that “factory on wheels” spends millions at local hotels, lumber yards, hardware stores, and catering companies.
Industry veterans note that the Sooner State has already proven it can compete with traditional production hubs. Buzz Leer with The Vertical Buzz highlighted Oklahoma’s forward-thinking momentum after the state hosted its first vertical film production this summer.
“If the first vertical was shot there, that’s better than a lot of states, because most of it’s been shot in L.A., New York, and Atlanta—some has been done in Dallas,” Leer said. “To pick up Oklahoma would be a great incentive for any filmmaker, because you guys have a very, very cool tax incentive for filmmakers in Oklahoma.”
Momentum building in Washington
President Trump has voiced strong support for the effort, arguing that while the price tag of the tax credit would be significant, the cost would be recovered “tenfold” through the domestic revenue and jobs generated by keeping American filmmakers on home turf.
Lawmakers are expected to take up the bipartisan legislation in the coming months, with industry advocates pushing for passage before the end of the year.
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