SB2181 Summary

• Allows non-resident wages up to $500,000 per employee to qualify as Illinois labor expenditures for film productions commencing on or after July 1, 2021, subject to Illinois income tax withholding.

• Imposes a 2.5% fee on transferred film production tax credits for out-of-state wages and an additional 0.25% fee on credits not calculated on out-of-state wages, effective July 1, 2021.

• Creates the Illinois Production Workforce Development Fund to receive fees from credit transfers and provide grants to community-based organizations, labor organizations, universities, and community colleges for workforce training programs in the film industry.

• Reserves 50% of annual appropriated funds for organizations that are minority-owned, located in underserved areas, or train cohorts where at least 50% of participants are minorities or reside in underserved areas.

• Protects the Illinois Production Workforce Development Fund from budget sweeps and fiscal maneuvers, and requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to submit annual reports on fund usage and training outcomes.