July 2, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica City Council Gets Behind Film & TV Tax Credit Bill:

Santa Monica is not Hollywood, but the city certainly has connections to the home base of the American film industry. Not only are there sound stages and production companies within Santa Monica, many film and television employees, executives, or professionals also live here.

Accordingly, Councilman Kevin McKeown sought on June 24 to have his colleagues support Assembly Bill 1839, which aims to “establish competitive state tax credit incentives to retain film and television jobs in California.”

Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) introduced the bill in Sacramento earlier this year. Assemblyman Richard Bloom, who previously served on the Santa Monica City Council, was one of the bill’s co-authors.

“TV and film jobs have been increasingly going to other states and other countries,” McKeown said, adding Santa Monica is home to many people who make a living in the creative arts industries, including television and film production.

Mayor Pam O’Connor pointed out that council voted in favor of supporting AB 1839 came on the heels of the news that, for the first time ever, more television pilots are filmed in New York than in Los Angeles.

Though Gatto’s bill has not yet placed a dollar figure of how large the tax credit would be, O’Connor suggested a friendly amendment to the motion that the council support of AB 1839 ultimately has California’s tax credits at least be equal to what New York offers.

According to O’Connor, California currently offers $100 million is tax credits versus $430 million in New York. O’Connor’s amendment seeks to have AB 1839 offer film and television productions within California the same $430 million offered to producers or studio heads to bring filming to New York.

The California Film Tax Credit Program was adopted in 2009 and aimed to create $500 million in credits within a five-year window. AB 1839 seeks to extend those tax credits through 2022.

As part of the extension, the amount of film tax credits available to film and television productions would be expanded. Just the same, the number of productions eligible for tax credits and incentives would also be expanded.

Other amendments proposed in AB 1839 would allow for more types of productions to take advantage of tax incentives if they remain in California.

The City Council unanimously voted in favor of supporting AB 1839. In April, the Los Angeles City Council also voted unanimously to support AB 1839.

The bill is currently in the State Senate; the State Assembly unanimously approved it on May 28.

in News
<>Related Posts

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...

More Commercial Uses Could Be Coming to RAND Building

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Amendment Unlocks New Opportunities, Secures $5.5 Million in Community Benefits The Santa Monica Planning Commission unanimously approved an amendment to...

People are Using Palisades for “Disaster Tours.” Local Officials Are Trying to Stop Them

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

A new motion introduced to City Council requests a coordinated strategy from LADOT, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the...

Santa Monica Favorite Esters Rebrands as Esters Wine Shop & Oyster Bar

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

New Concept Launches With French-Spanish Flair and Free Bubbles Esters Wine Shop, the fave Parisian-style wine bar in downtown Santa...

Letter to the Editor: Santa Monica’s Great Park: It’s Time to Deliver on 100 Years of Promise

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Santa Monica stands at the edge of history. For nearly a century, residents have consistently supported turning the airport land...

Why Nordstrom Says It’s Closing Its Santa Monica Place Location

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

A Nordstrom spokesperson explained the closure as a strategic realignment Nordstrom confirmed its decision to close its Santa Monica store...

Three-Bed Palisades Highlands Townhouse Hits Market for $1.7M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The Mediterranean-style property, located at 1529 Michael Lane, is part of a 71-unit community A remodeled 1,919-square-foot townhouse in the...

Six-Bed Mar Vista Hilltop Home Under Construction Lists for $5.3M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The private backyard is complete with a pool, spa, fire pit, built-in BBQ, and areas for outdoor dining A stunning...

(Video) Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction of Palisades Wildfires

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

With the reopening also comes a new exhibit, “The Kingdom of Pylos” Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction...

Free Virtual Planetarium Shows Coming to SMC in July

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The virtual format is in place as construction of the new SMC Planetarium and Observatory nears completion The Santa Monica...

Santa Monica Adopts $793.3M Budget for FY25-27, Prioritizing Housing and Safety

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The budget preserves core services and invests in major projects, including over $1 billion in hotel investments The Santa Monica...

Iranian Pastor in West L.A. Speaks as Church Rocked by Immigration Raids 

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Five Detained as Fear Spreads Through Persian Christian Faith Community  Fear has spread through a West Los Angeles congregation after...

California Doubles Down on Hollywood: $750M in Tax Credits Approved for Film and TV Industry

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

State Lawmakers Back Major Expansion of Production Incentives, Raising Job Projections Los Angeles’ film and television industry is poised to...

Park: “Our Water Infrastructure Must Be Emergency-Ready Every Day”

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Councilwoman expressed cautious relief at the news but emphasized the need for robust infrastructure The Los Angeles Department of Water...