Montana HB120 The Big Sky on the Big Screen Act
This bill is currently tabled and the passage of the bill is crucial to continued, year-round filming in Montana.
This bill re-enacts the film tax incentive program, which encourages filmmakers to hire Montana residents with a labor credit of 14% and a goods and services credit of 9%.
The tax credit is a true tax incentive, requiring pre-qualification, accounting and verification of all Montana residents hired, and requiring receipts to be audited by the Montana Department of Revenue. The program also requires a $500 filing fee to apply for a return.

The Department of Commerce estimates that for every $1 paid out in incentives $44 come back to Montana communities. 

For example, in 2014, one certified production chose to base their office in Sidney, Montana instead of Williston, North Dakota because of the incentive program.  They spent over $200,000 in Sidney on housing, goods and services.  Without the incentive, they would have located closer to the Bakken oil development in Williston for filming.

Here in Montana, we have become well known for independent films, quality documentary programming, and national commercials.
The films Plumm Summer, Winter in the Blood, The Thin Line have all used this incentive program, along with over 45 other productions over the last 10 years. Collectively, they have spent 9 million dollars in Montana.
While not all of the productions use the tax credit, it creates enough training opportunities to have crew members available for all productions.
Fewer of our college graduates in media are leaving the state instead choosing to stay and work in the state they love. A loss of the incentive takes away the push to hire our in-state workers.
Was your car or home rented to be on camera? That car could have been trucked in from out of state and a set built elsewhere.
Were you hired as an extra, actor or background? Many qualified union actors live elsewhere.
Were you hired as a crew member? Crew that works year-round, with more qualifications, could have been flown in to replace you.
Did you sell the company lumber, tape, office supplies, antiques, work clothing or winter gear? Those items could have been ordered online or shipped in from a quantity supplier.
It’s a choice to purchase goods and services locally in Montana instead of through Amazon, or Staples Online, E-Bay, or Etsy. We would much prefer that the pair of shoes, the jacket, the vintage lamp, and other purchases come from our local stores.
The incentive gives the push for that choice!