Bill > S1002

This bill modifies the Film and Entertainment Grant Fund in North Carolina to encourage film production within the state, with key changes including an increase in the maximum grant amount for feature-length films and single seasons of online or television series to $20 million and $25 million respectively, and a higher threshold of $4 million for what is considered "highly compensated" for an individual's services, meaning more of their compensation will count towards qualifying expenses. It also expands the types of productions eligible for grants to include those intended for online distribution and clarifies that a "production" for online series means all episodes produced in a single calendar year with at least six episodes averaging 20 minutes each, while also introducing a new "Micro-Budget Productions Account" to support smaller films, documentaries, and short films with qualifying expenses between $50,000 and $1.5 million, offering grants up to $100,000 plus potential bonuses for hiring North Carolina residents or filming in designated development areas, and importantly, these micro-budget grants are not contingent on having a distribution agreement. Additionally, the bill appropriates $1.5 million to this new Micro-Budget Productions Account and specifies that these changes become effective on July 1, 2026.