HB 1401 Summary

• Creates the Film, Television, and Digital Media Targeted Grant Program within the Department of Economic Opportunity to provide grants up to $2,000,000 per project as rebates of 12% (or 15% with bonus eligibility) of verified qualified expenditures.

• Establishes grant eligibility requirements including minimum qualified expenditures ($1,500,000 for feature films/digital media, $500,000 per TV episode, $1,000,000 for TV pilots), crews that are at least 60% Florida residents, and 60% of budget spent in-state; excludes obscene content and certain production types.

• Grants an additional 3% bonus if 75% of production occurs in underutilized areas (counties excluding Dade, Broward, Orange, and Seminole) or content is family-friendly.

• Requires independent certified public accountant compliance audits to verify qualified expenditures, with a 0.5% compliance fee deducted from grants before issuance; projects must include "Filmed in Florida" or "Produced in Florida" marketing materials and allow commissioner set visits.

• Program expires June 30, 2020, with annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on return on investment and economic benefits; remaining appropriated funds revert to General Revenue Fund by October 31, 2022.