The plan set aside up to $10 million in new revenue for a film tax credit to spur Delaware’s creative economy, though the actual cost would depend on how many productions apply.

Should this bill become law, the state will have a similar cap at $10 million every year, according to Harris.  

This isn’t the first time lawmakers have seen this legislation.  

In the hours before last year’s session ended, state Rep. Michael Smith backed a bill that would also establish a film tax credit for Delaware.    

Also known as the Delaware Entertainment Job Act, the bill would have also established a 30%, “transferable tax credit for an investment in the state” for qualified productions.    

Like its legislative relative, the bill would have required productions to bring First State residents as interns to qualify for this credit, as well as produce an audit of expenditures once production has wrapped.    

These 15 movies and TV shows were filmed in or set in Delaware

Doing this, the bill argued, would spur job creation, artistic ventures and investment in the media industry.    

The bill was also assigned to the House Revenue & Finance Committee, but did not advance. Smith signed on as a co-prime sponsor of this latest bill, according to Harris. 

Former Rep. Valerie Longhurst introduced a near-verbatim measure to Smith’s bill back in 2022, but it did not make it all the way through the House. 

What do lawmakers, Delawareans think? 

For the most part, committee members were receptive to the bill.  

Rep. Kendra Johnson was enthusiastic about the bill, asking to come on board as a co-signer of the bill.   

She pointed to the HBO crime drama series “Task,” whose entire second season is scheduled to be filmed entirely in southeastern Pennsylvania, starting July 6. 

Delaware’s neighbor state was reportedly investing $49.8 million into the project – the largest tax credit bestowed by the state to a single production, as reported by WHYY last year.  

The projection is also set to create 3,700 jobs and infuse $194.1 million back into its economy.  

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Pennsylvania’s current tax credit program offers a 25% to 30% credit to productions that spend no lesser than 60% of their total funds within state lines.  

“Imagine the economic growth that is happening there, that could be happening here,” Johnson told the panel.  

Others have thrown their support behind bringing a film tax credit to Delaware.  

Meyer is one such advocate. He mentioned during his State of the State address that Delaware not offering film tax credits made no sense, considering the latest Superman movie is “literally set” in the First State.     

“They should be shooting here,” he said. “We’re just going to let so many other neighboring states soak up all of that Hollywood money?”  

Other groups, including the Delaware Arts Alliance and the Delaware Hotel & Lodging Association, have also thrown their support behind the bill, Harris said.