Hollywood and lawmakers press Congress to act fast on federal shoot-at-home tax break

Hollywood studios, unions and lawmakers from both major parties want Congress to move fast on a federal tax break to keep film and television shoots in the United States.

The push came on a press call organised by the Motion Picture Association, the trade body for the major studios, after the release of a report on the need for and benefits of a federal incentive, as reported on 15 September 2026 Deadline. MPA Chairman Charles Rivkin took part alongside labour and congressional speakers. Their message was blunt. Production is moving abroad, and Washington must respond.

Jobs are at stake. That was the thread running through the call.

In the House, Reps. Laura Friedman, a Democrat from California, and Brian Jack, a Republican from Georgia, are working on draft legislation. In the Senate, Sen. Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California, is leading the work. IATSE President Matthew Loeb, who leads the union for behind-the-scenes crews, named Sen. Tim Scott, a Republican from South Carolina, as a supporter. Speakers also credited Jon Voight, who serves as President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Hollywood, as a key driver of the effort.

Trump’s backing gave the proposal new momentum. On 31 August 2026, he urged Congress to pass tax incentives for the entertainment industry Reuters. He doubled down a day later in support of a bipartisan push Deadline. That support marked a shift. Last year Trump had floated tariffs on productions made overseas before turning to a legislative incentive instead.

What is on the table is a credit worth 15% to 20% of production labour costs that would be stackable with state incentives, meaning producers could claim it on top of money from a state Los Angeles Times. Other drafts in circulation have floated similar figures, including a 20% base rate with an extra 5% to 10% for shoots in rural areas. The idea is to close the gap with other countries that already offer generous national breaks.

No one expects a bill to pass before the midterm elections. Supporters are aiming for the lame-duck session, the weeks after the election when the outgoing Congress still sits. Jack told the call that lawmakers would have additional news later that week to show congressional momentum. Not everyone is convinced. The Wall Street Journal editorial page called the idea a “handout” to Hollywood shortly after Trump’s announcement.

The wider industry has organised to press the case. Entertainment groups have launched the U.S. Film & TV Production Coalition to back a federal incentive. At present, the only federal provision for domestic film, television and sound recording projects is Section 181, which allows producers to deduct costs rather than claim a credit. Voight and a Hollywood coalition had asked Trump in May 2025 to consider tax incentives for domestic production Reuters.

For crews, this matters in practical terms. A single series can employ around 200 people, from carpenters to writers, and a decision on where it shoots decides where those contracts land.