EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb1487*
HOUSE BILL 1487
C8 4lr4607
By: Chair, Ways and Means Committee (By Request – Departmental – Commerce)
Introduced and read first time: February 15, 2024
Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations
Re–referred to: Ways and Means, February 26, 2024
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 5, 2024
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Entertainment Council – Alterations 2
FOR the purpose of reestablishing the Maryland Entertainment Council to be the 3
Maryland Entertainment Industry Council within the Department of Commerce to 4
study and make recommendations regarding Maryland’s film, tel evision, and 5
entertainment industry; and generally relating to the Maryland Entertainment 6
Council. 7
BY repealing 8
Chapter 434 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2023 9
Section 2 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Chapter 434 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2023 12
Section 5 13
BY adding to 14
Article – Economic Development 15
Section 4–401 through 4–408 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 4. Maryland 16
Entertainment Industry Council” 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 19
2 HOUSE BILL 1487
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
Chapter 434 of the Acts of 2023 3
[SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 4
(a) There is a Maryland Entertainment Council. 5
(b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Council consists of: 6
(i) one member of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the 7
President of the Senate; 8
(ii) one member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker 9
of the House; 10
(iii) the Governor’s appointed Senior Advisor on Film, Television, and 11
Entertainment; and 12
(iv) the following members, appointed by the Governor: 13
1. one expert in the business of the film, television, and 14
entertainment industry, such as an executive, producer, studio representative, or an 15
individual holding a leadership role within the industry; 16
2. one expert in workforce development or higher education 17
related to the film, television, and entertainment industry; 18
3. one expert in emerging technologies or specialties of the 19
film, television, and entertainment industry, such as an expert in gaming, artificial 20
intelligence, visual effects, animation, post–production, or another related specialty; 21
4. one expert in legal or policy fields specific to the film, 22
television, and entertainment industry; 23
5. one representative of the independent film and television 24
community; 25
6. one representative of nongovernmental entities or 26
philanthropic institutions that support film, television, or entertainment directly or 27
creative economies more broadly; and 28
7. one representative of organized labor in the entertainment 29
industry. 30
HOUSE BILL 1487 3
(2) The Governor may appoint up to three additional individuals as 1
honorary cochairs of the Council who are: 2
(i) individuals with extraordinary cultural capital and commanding 3
significant influence within the film, television, and entertainment industry; 4
(ii) business leaders commanding a significant stake within the film, 5
television, and entertainment industry; or 6
(iii) individuals who have defined the current cultural brand of the 7
film, television, and entertainment industry within the State. 8
(3) An individual appointed as an honorary cochair of the Council shall be 9
a nonvoting member of the Council whose responsibilities shall be limited to the promotion 10
and business development of Maryland’s film, television, and entertainment industry. 11
(c) The Senior Advisor on Film, Television, and Entertainment shall chair the 12
Council. 13
(d) The Department of Commerce shall provide staff for the Council. 14
(e) A member of the Council: 15
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Council; but 16
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 17
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 18
(f) The Council shall: 19
(1) assess Maryland’s existing assets, opportunities, and competitive 20
position within the film, television, and entertainment industry; 21
(2) study: 22
(i) Maryland’s State, local, and private assets that currently 23
support Maryland’s film, television, and entertainment industry, including key 24
infrastructure, existing workforce, workforce pipelines, scenic profile, emerging specialties, 25
and independent creative communities; 26
(ii) existing State programs, agencies, offices, grant programs, and 27
commissions across State agencies that support the film, television, and entertainment 28
industry; 29
(iii) models, competitive profiles, methods, and legislation that states 30
have utilized to incentivize necessary infrastructure and workforce to support the film, 31
television, and entertainment industry; 32 4 HOUSE BILL 1487
(iv) industry needs, disruptive trends, and emerging technologies 1
within the film, television, and entertainment industry; and 2
(v) complementary industries, aligned businesses, and potential 3
corporate, philanthropic, and other partners for the film, television, and entertainment 4
industry; and 5
(3) make recommendations on the development of a coordinated, 6
comprehensive strategic plan to position Maryland as an emerging leader in the film, 7
television, and entertainment industry. 8
(g) On or before December 1, 2023, the Council shall submit a preliminary report 9
to the Governor, the Secretary of Commerce, and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 10
Government Article, the General Assembly that includes: 11
(1) an assessment of Maryland’s existing infrastructure, creative profile, 12
and core structural advantages that the State is uniquely positioned to leverage; 13
(2) recommendations on how to best utilize existing State offices, 14
commissions, and programs to advance Maryland’s film, television, and entertainment 15
industry and what, if any, additional investments should be made to support these State 16
functions; 17
(3) a clear definition of Maryland’s creative and competitive profile; and 18
(4) recommendations to measure the economic impact of additional 19
investment in the film, television, and entertainment industry. 20
(h) On or before September 1, 2024, the Council shall submit its final report to 21
the Governor, the Secretary of Commerce, and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 22
Government Article, the General Assembly on: 23
(1) the matters included in the Council’s preliminary report; 24
(2) recommendations regarding the expansion of eligibility for film 25
production incentives, including with respect to live to tape events, and the potential 26
economic impact from that expansion; 27
(3) recommendations to strengthen the structure and funding of the State’s 28
existing film and theatrical production incentives to ensure a greater return on investment 29
on Maryland’s investment in the film, television, and entertainment industry; 30
(4) recommendations for additional State investment to bolster identified 31
specialties and high–leverage growth opportunities in the film, television, and 32
entertainment industry; 33
HOUSE BILL 1487 5
(5) recommendations to support and grow Maryland’s independent 1
creative community and incentivize export promotions of Maryland–based talent; 2
(6) methods to bolster film–, television–, and entertainment–related 3
business development and identify potential industry partnerships; 4
(7) methods to sustainably grow the film, television, and entertainment 5
workforce and identify potential workforce development and higher education partners; 6
and 7
(8) other recommendations, as appropriate, to support and grow the 8
economic impact of Maryland’s film, television, and entertainment industry.] 9
SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 10
1, 2023. [Section 2 of this Act shall remain effective for a period of 2 years and, at the end 11
of June 30, 2025, Section 2 of this Act, with no further action required by the General 12
Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect.] 13
Article – Economic Development 14
SUBTITLE 4. MARYLAND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY COUNCIL. 15
4–401. 16
IN THIS SUBTITLE , “COUNCIL” MEANS THE MARYLAND ENTERTAINMENT 17
INDUSTRY COUNCIL. 18
4–402. 19
THERE IS A MARYLAND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY COUNCIL IN THE 20
DEPARTMENT . 21
4–403. 22
(A) THE COUNCIL CONSISTS OF T HE FOLLOWING MEMBERS : 23
(1) ONE MEMBER OF THE SENATE OF MARYLAND, APPOINTED BY THE 24
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; 25
(2) ONE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, APPOINTED BY THE 26
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE; 27
(3) THE GOVERNOR’S APPOINTED SENIOR ADVISOR ON FILM, 28
TELEVISION, AND ENTERTAINMENT ; 29
6 HOUSE BILL 1487
(4) THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, OR THE SECRETARY’S 1
DESIGNEE; 2
(5) THE SECRETARY OF LABOR, OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; 3
(6) THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT , 4
OR THE SECRETARY’S DESIGNEE; AND 5
(7) THE FOLLOWING 19 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, IN 6
CONSULTATION WITH TH E SECRETARY: 7
(I) ONE EXPERT IN THE BU SINESS OF THE FILM , TELEVISION, 8
AND ENTERTAINMENT IN DUSTRY, SUCH AS AN EXECUTIVE , A PRODUCER , A STUDIO 9
REPRESENTATIVE , OR AN INDIVIDUAL HOL DING A LEADERSHIP RO LE WITHIN THE 10
INDUSTRY; 11
(II) ONE EXPERT IN WORKFO RCE DEVELOPMENT OR H IGHER 12
EDUCATION RELATED TO THE FILM, TELEVISION, AND ENTERTAINMENT IN DUSTRY; 13
(III) ONE EXPERT IN EMERGI NG TECHNOLOGIES OR 14
SPECIALTIES OF THE F ILM, TELEVISION, AND ENTERTAINMENT IN DUSTRY, SUCH AS 15
AN EXPERT IN GAMING , ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGE NCE, VISUAL EFFECTS , ANIMATION, 16
POSTPRODUCTION , OR ANOTHER RELATED S PECIALTY; 17
(IV) ONE EXPERT IN LEGAL OR POLICY FIELDS SPE CIFIC TO THE 18
FILM, TELEVISION, AND ENTERTAINMENT IN DUSTRY; 19
(V) ONE REPRESENTATIVE O F THE INDEPENDENT FILM A ND 20
TELEVISION COMMUNITY ; 21
(VI) ONE REPRESENTATIVE O F NONGOVERNMENTAL EN TITIES 22
OR PHILANTHROPIC INS TITUTIONS THAT SUPPO RT FILM, TELEVISION, OR 23
ENTERTAINMENT DIRECT LY OR CREATIVE ECONO MIES MORE BROADLY ; 24
(VII) ONE REPRESENTATIVE O F ORGANIZED LABOR IN T HE 25
ENTERTAINMENT INDUST RY; AND 26
(VIII) 12 INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE GENERAL EXPERIENCE I N THE 27
FILM, TELEVISION, OR ENTERTAINMENT IND USTRIES. 28
(B) (1) THE GOVERNOR MAY APPOINT UP TO THREE ADDITION AL 29
INDIVIDUALS AS HONOR ARY COCHAIRS OF THE COUNCIL WHO ARE : 30
HOUSE BILL 1487 7
(I) INDIVIDUALS WITH EXT RAORDINARY CULTURAL CAPITAL 1
AND COMMANDING SIGNI FICANT INFLUENCE WIT HIN THE FILM, TELEVISION, AND 2
ENTERTAINMENT INDUST RY; 3
(II) BUSINESS LEADERS COM MANDING A SIGNIFICAN T STAKE 4
WITHIN THE FILM , TELEVISION, AND ENTERTAINMENT INDU STRY; OR 5
(III) INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DEFINED THE CURRENT 6
CULTURAL BRAND OF TH E FILM, TELEVISION, AND ENTERTAINMENT IN DUSTRY 7
WITHIN THE STATE. 8
(2) AN INDIVIDUAL APPOINT ED AS AN HONORARY CO CHAIR OF THE 9
COUNCIL SHALL BE A NO NVOTING MEMBER OF TH E COUNCIL WHOSE 10
RESPONSIBILITIES SHA LL BE LIMITED TO THE PROMOTION AND BUSINE SS 11
DEVELOPMENT OF MARYLAND’S FILM, TELEVISION, AND ENTERTAINMENT 12
INDUSTRY. 13
(C) (1) (I) THE TERM OF A MEMBER UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(7) OF 14
THIS SECTION IS 2 YEARS AND BEGINS ON JULY 1. 15
(II) A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTED TO 16
THE COUNCIL SERVES UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOI NTED. 17
(2) (I) THIS PARAGRAPH APPLIE S ONLY TO A MEMBER A PPOINTED 18
UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(7) OF THIS SECTION. 19
(II) A MEMBER MAY BE REAPPO INTED, BUT AFTER SERVING FO R 20
THREE CONSECUTIVE 2–YEAR TERMS, A MEMBER MAY NOT BE REAPPOINTED UNTIL 21
AT LEAST 1 YEAR AFTER THE END O F THE MEMBER ’S PREVIOUS TENURE . 22
(III) THE TERMS OF MEMBERS ARE STAGGERED AS REQ UIRED BY 23
THE TERMS PROVIDED F OR MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ON JULY 1, 2024. 24
(IV) AT THE END OF A TERM , A MEMBER CONTINUES T O SERVE 25
UNTIL A SUCCESSOR HA S BEEN APPOINTED AND QUALIFIES. 26
(V) A MEMBER WHO IS APPOIN TED AFTER A TERM HAS BEGUN 27
SERVES ONLY FOR THE REST OF THE TERM AND UN TIL A SUCCESSOR IS A PPOINTED 28
AND QUALIFIES. 29
(D) IN APPOINTING MEMBERS , THE GOVERNOR SHALL PROVID E, TO THE 30
EXTENT PRACTICABLE , BALANCED GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION . 31
4–404. 32 8 HOUSE BILL 1487
THE SENIOR ADVISOR ON FILM, TELEVISION, AND ENTERTAINMENT SHAL L 1
CHAIR THE COUNCIL. 2
4–405. 3
A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL: 4
(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMP ENSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE 5
COUNCIL; BUT 6
(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMB URSEMENT FOR EXPENSE S UNDER THE 7
STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 8
4–406. 9
(A) THE COUNCIL SHALL: 10
(1) ASSESS MARYLAND’S EXISTING ASSETS , OPPORTUNITIES , AND 11
COMPETITIVE POSITION WITHIN THE FILM , TELEVISION, AND ENTERTAINMENT 12
INDUSTRY; 13
(2) STUDY: 14
(I) MARYLAND’S STATE, LOCAL, AND PRIVATE ASSETS T HAT 15
CURRENTLY SUPPORT MARYLAND’S FILM, TELEVISION, AND ENTERTAINMENT 16
INDUSTRY, INCLUDING KEY INFRAS TRUCTURE, EXISTING WORKFORCE , 17
WORKFORCE PIPELINES , SCENIC PROFILE , EMERGING SPECIALTIES , AND 18
INDEPENDENT CREATIVE COMMUNITIES ; 19
(II) EXISTING STATE PROGRAMS , AGENCIES, OFFICES, GRANT 20
PROGRAMS, AND COMMISSIONS ACRO SS STATE AGENCIES THAT S UPPORT THE FILM , 21
TELEVISION, AND ENTERTAINMENT IN DUSTRY; 22
(III) MODELS, COMPETITIVE PROFILES , METHODS, AND 23
LEGISLATION THAT STA TES HAVE UTILIZED TO INCENTIVIZE NECESSAR Y 24
INFRASTRUCTURE AND WORKFORCE TO SUP PORT THE FILM , TELEVISION, AND 25
ENTERTAINMENT INDUST RY; 26
(IV) INDUSTRY NEEDS , DISRUPTIVE TRENDS , AND EMERGING 27
TECHNOLOGIES WITHIN THE FILM, TELEVISION, AND ENTERTAINMENT IN DUSTRY; 28
AND 29
HOUSE BILL 1487 9
(V) COMPLEMENTARY INDUST RIES, ALIGNED BUSINES SES, AND 1
POTENTIAL CORPORATE , PHILANTHROPIC , AND OTHER PARTNERS F OR THE FILM, 2
TELEVISION, AND ENTERTAINMENT IN DUSTRY; AND 3
(3) MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT O F A 4
COORDINATED , COMPREHENSIVE STRATE GIC PLAN TO POSITION MARYLAND AS AN 5
EMERGING LEAD ER IN THE FILM, TELEVISION, AND ENTERTAINMENT IN DUSTRY. 6
(B) THE COUNCIL MAY: 7
(1) ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS SUBTI TLE; 8
(2) ENTER INTO CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS ; 9
(3) OBTAIN SERVICES ; 10
(4) ASK ANY OTHER UNIT O F THE STATE FOR ASSISTANCE AND DATA 11
THAT ENABLE THE COUNCIL TO CARRY OUT ITS POWERS AND DUTIE S; 12
(5) ACCEPT FEDERAL MONEY FOR ANY PURPOSE OF T HIS SUBTITLE; 13
AND 14
(6) ACCEPT GIFTS, DONATIONS, OR BEQUESTS FOR ANY PURPOSE OF 15
THIS SUBTITLE. 16
4–407. 17
STAFF FOR THE COUNCIL SHALL BE PR OVIDED BY: 18
(1) THE DEPARTMENT ; AND 19
(2) ANY OTHER STATE AGENCY DESIGNAT ED BY THE GOVERNOR. 20
4–408. 21
THE COUNCIL: 22
(1) SHALL PUBLISH AN ANN UAL REPORT ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 23
2026, AND EACH JANUARY 1 THEREAFTER , SHALL SUBMIT AN ANNU AL REPORT TO 24
THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT 25
ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; AND 26
(2) MAY PUBLISH OTHER MA TERIAL. 27
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 28 10 HOUSE BILL 1487
(a) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Maryland Entertainment 1
Industry Council established under Section 1 of this Act be the successor of the Maryland 2
Entertainment Council established by Section 2 of Chapter 434 of the Acts of the General 3
Assembly of 2023. 4
(b) Subject to the limitations of § 4–403(c) and (d) of the Economic Development 5
Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act, the Governor may appoint an individual who 6
previously served on the Maryland Entertainment Council established by Section 2 of 7
Chapter 434 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2023 to serve on the Maryland 8
Entertainment Industry Council established under Section 1 of this Act. 9
(c) The terms of the initial appointed members of the Maryland Entertainment 10
Industry Council established by Section 1 of this Act shall expire as follows: 11
(1) 10 members in 2025; and 12
(2) 9 members in 2026. 13
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, on or before December 1, 14
2024, the Maryland Entertainment Industry Council established under Section 1 of this 15
Act shall submit a report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 16
Government Article, the General Assembly on: 17
(1) an assessment of Maryland’s existing infrastructure, creative profile, 18
and core structural advantages that the State is uniquely positioned to leverage; 19
(2) recommendations on how to best utilize existing State offices, 20
commissions, and programs to advance Maryland’s film, television, and entertainment 21
industry and what, if any, additional investments should be made to support these State 22
functions; 23
(3) a clear definition of Maryland’s creative and competitive profile; 24
(4) recommendations to measure the economic impact of additional 25
investment in the film, television, and entertainment industry; 26
(5) recommendations regarding the expansion of eligibility for film 27
production incentives, including with respect to live to tape events, and the potential 28
economic impact from that expansion; 29
(6) recommendations to strengthen the structure and funding of the State’s 30
existing film and theatrical production incentives to ensure a greater return on investment 31
on Maryland’s investment in the film, television, and entertainment industry; 32
HOUSE BILL 1487 11
(7) recommendations for additional State investment to bolster identified 1
specialties and high–leverage growth opportunities in the film, television, and 2
entertainment industry; 3
(8) recommendations to support and grow Maryland’s independent 4
creative community and incentivize export promotions of Maryland–based talent; 5
(9) methods to bolster film–, television–, and entertainment–related 6
business development and identify potential industry partnerships; 7
(10) methods to sustainably grow the film, television, and entertainment 8
workforce and identify potential workforce development and higher education partners; 9
and 10
(11) other recommendations, as appropriate, to support and grow the 11
economic impact of Maryland’s film, television, and entertainment industry. 12
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 13
1, 2024. 14
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.