Texas May Up the Ante to Court Film and TV

For years, other states stood in for the locale — that could now change

For studios, the best part about shooting in New Mexico might be how much it looks like Texas. That’s why Taylor Sheridan’s Hell or High Water filmed in New Mexico, as did Walker: Independence, King Rex and other projects looking for generous tax incentives to shoot in the state, as well as desert valleys and wooded mountains that mimic the Lone Star State.

Texas is flanked by states known for offering robust tax credits to lure film and TV productions. In 2022, Hollywood projects pumped more than $1.5 billion into the economies of New Mexico, Louisiana and Oklahoma, much of it for titles set in Texas but unable to shoot in the state due to its middling incentive program. Now, Texan lawmakers are looking to court Hollywood. A bill introduced in the state legislature on March 7 proposes to supplement Texas’ existing grant program with a new, uncapped scheme targeted at big-budget projects of at least $15 million.

The proposal, if passed, would launch the state into the upper echelon of jurisdictions that offer film and TV tax credits. It comes as Southern states amend and improve their film and TV tax credit programs.

New Mexico, armed with refundable tax credits of 25 to 35 percent, has quickly become known as a production hub after hosting Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and Stranger Things.

A bill introduced in February proposes to double the uplift for filming in rural areas to 10 percent and adjust the ceiling on the program by $10 million a year to keep up with industry growth and inflation.

Oklahoma and Louisiana have garnered reputations as