Save SB 621 - Oregon Film Incentive Legislation

Email Campaign to Representative Dave Hunt

The House Revenue Committee has killed SB 621. Today, only the Speaker of the Oregon House, Representative Dave Hunt (Clackamas County, District 40) can solve this problem, by asking a House committee to re-open the bill and send it to the floor.

Email Representative Dave Hunt today at rep.davehunt@state.or.us. Tell Representative Hunt that "SB 621 brings more jobs to Oregon," how that effects you, and ask him to re-open SB 621 for a vote on the House Floor today.   

The House Revenue Committee was shut down by its chair, Lane & Linn County Democrat Phil Barnhart, without having allowed SB 621 a hearing. This means that in spite of the support of the Governor, the approval of the Oregon Senate, and all the intense and incredible support of OMPA members, the unions and the rest of our industry, SB 621 will not have a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives.  

This is a very sad state of affairs, and it would seem that some Legislators do not fully comprehend the value of SB 621 as a measure to grow jobs immediately. SB 621 increases investment in one of the few job growth stimulus programs that has been proven to work. If the bill does get introduced to the House floor, we'll need to make sure that each and every House Rep understands that SB 621 will ensure job growth in this industry, so stay connected with your State Representative on this.

Email Representative Dave Hunt and ask him to re-open SB 621 today: rep.davehunt@state.or.us

The key to getting out of this recession is improving the economy and getting people working immediately. The current catch phrase in government is "shovel ready jobs." There is not another industry more capable of acting immediately than the film industry. When a decision is made to get a project started, the work begins the next day. Thanks to the incentive program put in place by the state, Oregon has witnessed a resurgence of film and television production. 2009 is already proving to be the best year Oregon's film and television industry has seen in over fifteen years. Film incentives bring jobs and revenue into our state while requiring little demand on our infrastructure. 

Most importantly, the incentive programs are not speculative. No money is handed out until there is proof that the investment has been made here in Oregon. The best news is that there is still room to grow. With the continued support of the state, this industry will continue to bring in investment to the state, thus creating jobs for Oregonians and revenue for local business and government.

Oregon Film & Television Industry Facts

• The film and video industry generates around $709 million per year for Oregon’s economy. Every dollar in tax credits used for the incentive fund returned $1.15 to the State Treasury.
• In 2007 out-of-state productions represented $41.3 million in direct spending in the state.
• In 2007 the industry generated annual wages 34% higher than the state average. Film and video production creates more than 13,000 jobs for Oregon workers per year.
• Hotels, restaurants, antique stores, cell phone companies, dry cleaners, car rental agencies, lumber yards, paint stores, and a large array of other Oregon businesses derive revenue from production.
• Tourism is impacted by filming. When “Twilight” shot in the state, local restaurants and hotels had an increase in business when “Twilight” fans from other states and countries visited. The Astoria Chamber of Commerce reports that 200 people per month visit Astoria to see the house from the 1985 movie “The Goonies.”

OPIF (Oregon Production Investment Fund) Facts

• The incentive plan is working. Because of incentives, between 2005 and 2007 Oregon’s out-of-state film industry spend grew 117%.
• Since Oregon started offering incentives, the budgets of out-of-state film projects have grown from an average of $2.1 million per project to $8 million per project.
• As successful as the current incentives program is, it still only allows for 6 – 8 months of production per year. An increase to OPIF of $5 million over two years will bring us closer to a full year of production each year.
• Adding an additional $5 million to OPIF in '09/'11 will bring an additional $40 million in spending to the state.