Bill > SB177

This bill amends the Alabama Entertainment Industry Incentive Act to make several key changes to the state's film and entertainment production incentive program. The bill renames the Alabama Film Office to the Alabama Entertainment Office and expands the definition of qualified production to include music albums. It increases the maximum expenditure threshold eligible for rebates from $20 million to $20 million per project, with a new provision reserving $2 million specifically for music album productions starting in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. The annual aggregate cap for incentives is maintained at $20 million through fiscal year 2025 and then increases to $22 million for subsequent years. The bill also introduces a new provision allowing up to $3 million in unspent incentives to be carried over to the following fiscal year. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Commerce to commission an out-of-state entity to review and evaluate the program, with a report to be submitted to the Legislature by the first legislative day of the 2027 Regular Legislative Session. The rebate structure remains similar to the previous law, offering 25% rebates on production expenditures and 35% on payroll paid to Alabama residents, with various specific provisions for different types of entertainment productions.