California’s film and television industry has<a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/19/governor-newsom-expands-film-and-tv-tax-credits-with-new-legislation-creates-tax-credit-to-support-post-production-jobs/?ref=smdp.com” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>received two additional lines of support. One will establish a new tax credit for post-production jobs. The other will stabilize the state’s recentlymodernized Film & TV Tax Credit Program.
State Sen. Ben Allen, D-Hollywood, co-authoredAB 2319, which was authored by Schultz. Allen also helped lead the effort onSB 186.
“While runaway production had caused a lot of distress across the state, we’ve made good progress in restoring these jobs in California since expanding our tax credit program last year,” Allen said. “Now, we’re committed to building on and protecting these successes that are supporting tens of thousands of working families.”
TheFilm & Television Jobs Act, by Allen and Assemblymember Zbur, was enacted in 2025. Since then, 170 projects have chosen to film in California. Those projects created nearly 35,000 cast and crew jobs and generated $6.6 billion in economic activity.
AB 2319 creates a tax credit for post-production work, including picture editorial, sound, music, visual effects and finishing.
SB 186 exempts independent productions from the credit caps set bySB 122. It also protects unused tax credits from expiring early and improves refundability.
“We’re beginning to see real signs of progress, but we know there is much more work ahead,” said Zbur, D-Hollywood. “SB 186 protects the progress we’ve made and provides greater stability and certainty for productions deciding where to invest and for the thousands of workers whose livelihoods depend on this industry.”
The measures come as Attorney General Rob Bontaannounced a settlement that allows the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger to move forward. The settlement includes guardrails that guarantee a minimum number of releases each year and investments in domestic production and workforce development.
“Even with a settlement in place, we must keep this under a microscope to ensure the typical harmful impacts from megamergers like this are completely mitigated,” Allen said.
