California Introduces $10 Million Tax Credit for Post-production
WHO:
Los Angeles Times - The bill, AB 2319, was authored by Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-Burbank).
Los Angeles Times - Marielle Abaunza is the president of the California Post Alliance.
Variety - Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill.
Deadline - The Motion Picture Editors Guild supports the new tax credit.
WHAT:
Los Angeles Times - The new tax credit will allow a 35% to 50% credit on qualified expenses related specifically to post-production work done in California.
Los Angeles Times - The program is expected to start in January.
NY Post - The new program is starting considerably smaller than supporters originally envisioned.
Variety - A $10 million tax credit has been created to support post-production jobs in California.
Deadline - The new tax credit is part of an expansion of California's film and television tax credit program.
WHERE:
Variety - The tax credit is aimed at post-production jobs in California.
WHEN:
Los Angeles Times - The state Senate approved the bill in a 33-5 vote on August 30, and the Assembly approved the final version 72 to 2 on the same day.
Variety - The bill, AB 2319, was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom after passing the state Assembly and Senate last month.
WHY:
Los Angeles Times - California's share of U.S. post-production employment has fallen from 53% to 42% over the last 13 years, according to CVL Economics.
Variety - The measure aims to prevent post-production jobs from moving to other states and overseas.
Deadline - The tax incentives are designed to attract productions that shoot outside California but bring their post work to the state.
HOW:
Los Angeles Times - The new tax credit is part of an expansion of California's film and television tax credit program, which previously covered post-production only if 75% of filming or the overall budget was spent in the state.
Variety - The bill was passed by wide margins in the state Assembly and Senate.
(UPDATED September 20, 2026 04:55 UTC)
California has approved a new tax credit aimed at boosting the state's post-production industry, allowing for a credit of 35% to 50% on qualified expenses specifically related to post-production work done in the state. Authored by Assemblymember Nick Schultz, the bill received overwhelming support in the state Senate with a vote of 33 to 5 and was similarly approved by the Assembly at 72 to 2 on August 30. This program is set to launch in January, as California seeks to regain its share of U.S. post-production employment, which has dropped from 53% to 42% over the past 13 years.
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(UPDATED September 19, 2026 23:56 UTC)
A new program is set to launch, but it's starting off considerably smaller than supporters had originally envisioned. This development was reported by the New York Post at twenty-three fifty-six UTC. As the program unfolds, many will be watching to see how it evolves from this modest beginning.
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(UPDATED September 19, 2026 20:56 UTC)
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new bill creating a $10 million tax credit aimed at supporting post-production jobs in the state. This measure, known as AB 2319, is part of an expansion of California's film and television tax credit program and was passed by wide margins in both the state Assembly and Senate last month. The tax incentives are designed to keep post-production work from moving out of California and to attract productions that shoot elsewhere but want to bring their editing and finishing work back to the state.