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The Multimedia Jobs Act aims to strengthen Michigan’s creative economy through targeted incentives.

Ella Flores Brosnan/DAILY

The Michigan Daily included the Multimedia Jobs Act (House Bills 5991 and 5992) in its May 2026 legislative roundup, highlighting the proposal as part of a broader package of bills under consideration by Michigan lawmakers.

The legislation would establish tax credits and incentives aimed at attracting film, television, music, commercial, video game, and other multimedia productions to Michigan. Supporters say the program would help create jobs, attract investment, and strengthen the state's creative economy.

Advocates also note that more than 45 states currently offer similar incentive programs, making the Multimedia Jobs Act an effort to improve Michigan’s competitiveness in attracting multimedia projects and related business activity.

READ AT MICHIGAN DAILY

Lawmakers look to strengthen Michigan’s creative economy through multimedia tax credits. Michigan lawmakers have introduced legislation to restore multimedia tax credits aimed at attracting film, television, video game, and other digital media productions to the state. The proposal seeks to bring production spending, jobs, and investment back to Michigan after the state's previous film incentive program ended in 2015. Supporters say the new legislation has been redesigned to better benefit Michigan workers and businesses, with stronger accountability measures and a broader focus on the state's growing multimedia industry. The bills have been referred to the Michigan House Committee on Government Operations for further consideration.

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LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Michigan lawmakers are introducing legislation that would restore a tax credit aimed at attracting filmmakers and other entertainment productions to the state.

Michigan lawmakers have introduced legislation that would restore tax incentives for film, television, and video game productions in an effort to attract more multimedia projects to the state.

Michigan previously offered film tax credits from 2008 to 2015, helping attract major productions such as Transformers and Batman v Superman. The program was ultimately discontinued amid concerns about its economic return.

Supporters of the new legislation say the proposed incentives have been completely redesigned to better benefit Michigan workers, businesses, and communities. According to the Michigan Film Industry Association, the new approach focuses on creating opportunities for local talent and companies while strengthening the state's multimedia economy.

The bills have been referred to the Michigan House Committee on Government Operations for consideration.

READ AT WILX 10

The Multimedia Jobs Act is gaining attention in Lansing as lawmakers consider new tax credits designed to attract film, television, music, commercial, and video game productions to Michigan.

Supporters say the legislation would help create jobs, generate economic activity, and encourage creative talent to build careers in Michigan rather than leaving the state for opportunities elsewhere.

More than 45 states currently offer similar incentive programs, putting Michigan at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to attracting major productions and related spending.

The proposed legislation has been updated from previous film incentive programs, with a stronger focus on supporting Michigan workers, businesses, and communities while expanding eligibility to a broader range of multimedia industries.

Advocates believe the program could generate significant investment, create new opportunities for small businesses and creative professionals, and strengthen Michigan’s growing multimedia economy.

READ AT WILX 10

A crew with the Detroit-based Woodward Original production company shoot at the Spot Lite record store in Detroit. Photo courtesy of MiFIA

Macomb Daily reporter Gina Joseph shared an outstanding story about MiFIA's work to create a new multimedia incentive in Michigan. It begins:

NBC TV has a new hit series.

Audiences everywhere, and especially those living along Wayne County’s Lakeshore Drive, are clamoring for a second season of “Grosse Pointe Garden Society.” It’s a quirky dramedy about a garden club in a Detroit suburb, whose members are caught up in murder and mayhem, while struggling to make their conventional lives bloom.

Too bad it’s filmed in Georgia.

“It’s so annoying to us in the industry — to see films about Michigan — being made in another state,” said Peter Klein of Troy, a cinematographer and member of the Michigan Film Industry Association (MiFIA), which is gearing up for another push to get the Multimedia Jobs Act passed into law.

“This is not a handout to Hollywood. This is not a rebate. This is a very different bill,” Klein said, of legislation designed to promote Michigan-produced films, television shows, digital streaming productions, photography and commercials.

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WXYZ filed this story after the MiFIA Live Comedy + Multimedia Industry Networking Event at Cadieux Stage in Detroit on May 14, 2025.

Michael Patrick Shiels interviews MiFIA Board Chair David Haddad, diving into the industry and progress on passing the Multimedia Jobs Act in Michigan.

Listen to the interview from Michigan's Big Show featuring MiFIA Chairman, David Haddad.

Photo: Dee Morrison

With Grand Valley State University’s Future ED Lab as the backdrop, film industry professionals met with lawmakers, educators and students to discuss the Multimedia Jobs Act awaiting action in the state house after summer break.

“We have a crisis in this state with brain drain and are leaving to go to other states.”

Geoff George is a cinematographer and a member of the Michigan Film Industry Association. He says Michigan is losing out to the 41 states and cities who do have film and multimedia incentives. Unlike Michigan’s previous program which ended in 2015, the new plan is not an incentive or rebate but a transferable tax credit, so the money stays in the state and includes not just film but broader multimedia industries like commercial photography and industrial production.

“What this bill does is encourage multimedia jobs to be created in this state through a tax voucher system that doesn’t come out of a line item in the budget. It won’t be on the backs of the taxpayers.”

Julie Goldstein, an associate professor in the Visual and Media Arts Department at Grand Valley State University, led the tour of the Future ED Lab where students use cutting edge CGI, XR and AI techniques to learn the foundational skills needed for today’s careers in a collaborative environment.

Read the rest of the story at WGVU Public Media.

The Multimedia Jobs Act is a bipartisan legislative initiative to revive the Michigan film industry after incentives dissolved in 2015.

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Multimedia Jobs Act passed out of Michigan's economic development and small business house committee with 10 votes in favor and 2 passes. 

This marks an important move forward for filmmaking in the state. 

The vote comes after a February hearing where college students, industry professionals, and lawmakers testified to the importance of reviving a new and beneficial film incentive program to the state.

Read the rest of the story at WZZM13.

Legislation supports talent retention, economic growth

LANSING, MI – In a significant bipartisan move, the Michigan House Committee on Economic Development and Small Business today approved the Michigan Multimedia Jobs Act.

The legislation (House Bills 4907-4908) aims to invigorate the state’s economy, foster job growth, and retain local talent. Bill sponsors are Reps. Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield) and John Roth (R-Interlochen - pictured, center).

“These pro-job bills are designed to diversify our state economy by investing in our workforce and help us compete with states that already provide incentives, leading to a stronger Michigan.” - Alexander Page, Legislative Director, MiFIA“

The Michigan Multimedia Jobs Act introduces a transferable tax credit designed to promote Michigan-produced films, television shows, digital streaming productions, photography and commercials. By encouraging investment in the state’s creative sector, this legislation seeks to position Michigan as a competitive hub for multimedia production. The Act is expected to produce approximately $6 billion to $8 billion in direct spend during the Act’s first 10 years

“These pro-job bills are designed to diversify our state economy by investing in our workforce and help us compete with states that already provide incentives, leading to a stronger Michigan,” said Alexander Page of the Michigan Film Industry Association, a strong advocate for the bills.

Over 40 states and cities as well as 100-plus global programs have multimedia programs in place. The Act’s key provisions include:

• Tax Credit for Michigan-Produced Content: Film and television production companies hiring Michigan residents will receive a 30% tax credit. The Act sets a $50,000 minimum qualified spend for commercials, commercial photography, and short films, and a $300,000 minimum spend for feature films and TV shows.
• Building a Marketplace for Michigan-Based Projects: Rather than a rebate, the program offers a credit against unrealized state tax revenue. This approach ensures that the cash remains within Michigan, benefiting local businesses and communities.
  

“We are looking for films that are $10 million to $40 million, where they are hiring local businesses,” said David Haddad, MiFIA chair. “This is an infrastructure bill in addition to jobs, jobs, jobs, and did I mention jobs?"

MiFIA and the legislation’s proponents believe the Act will create a thriving ecosystem for filmmakers, boost local economies and keep Michigan talent within the state. They have been actively engaging with lawmakers to ensure bipartisan support for this critical legislation.

For more information, visit www.mifia.org.