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A bill to raise the caps on incentives currently offered to productions passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Rita Martinson, a Republican from Madison, says the economic benefit of the film industry it is understood by legislators.
The bill would increase the cap on rebate payments to a single employee on the production's payroll. Proponents say increasing the caps would allow the state to draw films with bigger budgets.
The bill also would increase the total amount of rebates for all productions in a single fiscal year from $20 million to $40 million.
Ward Emling, manager of the Mississippi Film Office, says the state is in a position to move forward with its incentive program.