Newsom Signs California Postproduction Tax Credit Law
Newsom Signs California Postproduction Tax Credit Law
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Key Points
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AB 2319 passed with broad bipartisan support: the state Senate approved it 33-5 and the Assembly approved the final version 72-2 on Aug. 30.
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The legislation was authored by Assemblymember Nick Schultz of Burbank, who initially sought $100 million for the program before the state allocated $10 million for its expected January launch.
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Newsom signed the bill at a ceremony at the Television Academy’s offices in North Hollywood, and an event insider said the governor described the initial $10 million allocation as a “down payment,” signaling that additional funding could be sought in future years.
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California’s post-production employment share has declined from 53% to 42% of the U.S. total over the past 13 years, according to CVL Economics, underscoring the scale of the jobs migration the incentive is intended to reverse.
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The Editors Guild said AB 2319 will complement the broader film and television tax-credit program by allowing productions filmed outside California to return to the state for post-production work and employ California Editors Guild members.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2319 into law, creating the state's first standalone tax credit for post-production work. Yahoo The measure offers a 35% to 50% credit on qualifying editing, sound, composing, and visual-effects expenses done in California. KFIAM640 The program launches with $10 million in funding, though Newsom called it a "down payment" signaling more money could come later.
The bill passed with sweeping bipartisan support — 33-5 in the state Senate and 72-2 in the Assembly on August 30. NY Post California's share of U.S. post-production jobs has dropped from 53% to 42% over 13 years, underscoring why lawmakers backed this incentive to bring work back home.
How the New Credit Works and Who Qualifies
AB 2319 covers post-production for any project, even those filmed outside California or ineligible for the state's broader production credits. Yahoo Editors, sound designers, composers, and visual-effects teams doing qualifying work in the state get 35% to 50% back in tax credits. The program is set to launch in January 2025.
Newsom Signals Bigger Investment May Be Coming
Assemblymember Nick Schultz of Burbank authored the bill and originally pushed for $100 million in funding. NY Post The state allocated $10 million instead, but Newsom's remarks at the signing ceremony in North Hollywood made clear this is just the start. "Down payment" signals lawmakers expect to expand the program in future budget years.
Hollywood Unions See a Path to Restore Lost Jobs
The Editors Guild praised AB 2319 as a tool to bring post-production work back to California workers. KFIAM640 Productions filmed overseas or outside the state can now return to California for editing and effects work, allowing studios to employ California-based editors and craftspeople. Industry groups back this law and also support extending the broader film-and-television tax-credit program.
Why California Needed This New Incentive
Post-production jobs have fled California over the past 13 years as other states and countries offered cheaper incentives. Yahoo Losing nearly 11% of the nation's post-production work represents thousands of jobs in editing, visual effects, sound design, and music composition. AB 2319 aims to reverse that trend by making California competitive again for these high-skill roles.
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