10 years after state incentives ended, Florida could revamp its film policy — via license plates

Lawmakers may soon revisit Florida’s long-running debate over film incentives — not through tax credits, but by creating a specialty license plate to aid the industry while gauging residents’ appetite for broader action.

A to-be-filed bill by Miami Beach Republican Rep. Fabián Basabe would create a “Florida Film Legacy” specialty license plate. Proceeds from plate sales would go to Feature Florida Partnerships, a nonprofit that supports local filmmakers and works to rebuild the state’s motion picture infrastructure.

Basabe said the proposal offers a “grassroots way to engage Floridians” in shaping the future of Florida’s film and creative industries, adding that strong plate sales would signal public interest in renewed state involvement.

“Florida once had a vibrant film and television presence that created jobs, developed local talent and highlighted our communities,” he said in a statement.

“How Florida approaches this space in the future is a discussion worth having, and it should be informed by participation from Floridians themselves.”

The proposal comes nearly a decade after Florida lawmakers allowed a statewide film and TV production incentive program to expire amid funding disputes. From 2010 to 2016, the Legislature allocated $296 million to provide tax credits to film studios and other production companies that shot primarily in Florida.

That program coincided with a surge in Florida-based productions, including USA Network’s “Burn Notice,” HBO’s “Ballers” and Netflix’s “Bloodline.” Combined, they reached more than 1.5 billion viewers worldwide — exposure the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau estimated was equal to $405 million in advertising value.

VISIT FLORIDA reported that in 2012, 23% of tourists said shows and movies shot in the Sunshine State influenced their travel plans. By 2016, however, lawmakers declined to replenish the incentive program, and productions began leaving the state.

Many relocated to neighboring states with active and well-funded incentive programs. Today, Florida is the only state in the Southeast without a statewide film incentive.

“We’re not on a level playing field,” Sandy Lighterman, President of Film Florida, told Florida Politics. “The winners are the ones that have an incentive. The losers are the ones that don’t.”

In the four years that followed the death of Florida’s incentive program, Florida lost more than 70 major film and TV projects that would have spent $1.3 billion statewide, created 110,000 cast and crew jobs, and booked more than 220,000 hotel room nights, a 2020 resolution by former Miami-Dade Commissioner Rebeca Sosa said.

Some local governments have attempted to fill the void left by the state. In 2017, the Miami-Dade Commission approved a measure by then-Commissioner Sally Heyman establishing a local tax rebate program for entertainment productions. The initiative attracted projects including “Red Table Talk: The Estefans” and “Critical Thinking,” a feature film about Miami Jackson High School’s championship chess team directed by John Leguizamo.

In December 2023, Miami-Dade expanded those efforts by establishing a high-impact film fund, backed by Commissioner René García, designed to provide between $5 million and $10 million annually in rebates for large-scale film and television productions shot locally.

Meanwhile, multiple lawmakers — including Sarasota Republican Sen. Joe Gruters, Fort Pierce Republican Rep. Dana Trabulsy and North Miami Democratic Rep. Dotie Joseph — have unsuccessfully pushed in recent years to revive a statewide incentive program.

President Donald Trump has also shown interest in the issue. Last year, he briefly floated a 100% tariff on foreign-made films before backing away from the idea amid widespread criticism. He has also expressed support for a proposed federal framework, backed by major industry figures like Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight, that would offer federal tax breaks to domestically shot productions. That advocacy led last year to bipartisan legislation that has yet to pass.

Basabe’s proposal would operate independently from those local and federal efforts, but it could help inform future policy debates.

“This Legislation provides a simple, transparent starting point, allowing residents to signal interest, support talent development and help guide future conversations about workforce pipelines and economic opportunities,” he said. “At its core, this Bill is about participation, collaboration and giving Floridians a voice.”

A draft of the bill Basabe shared with Florida Politics shows it would take effect Oct. 1, 2026, if approved this year. Beginning Sept. 1, 2027, Feature Florida Partnerships would be required to submit an annual financial report detailing the use of its share of the license plate proceeds.