OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A $5 million annual rebate program that has been used to attract producers of films like last year's "August: Osage County" to Oklahoma would continue for another ten years under a bill that has passed a Senate committee.
The Senate Finance Committee voted 7-2 for the bill on Tuesday. It now heads to the full Senate, where it is expected to pass.
The state provides rebates to filmmakers of $1 for every $3 they spend on movie productions in Oklahoma, up to a total of $5 million. Supporters say the rebate allows Oklahoma to compete with other states to bring lucrative film productions to their states.
But lawmakers who oppose the bill say the program is a wasteful use of tax dollars.