The House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business and Trade received public testimony Feb. 17 on House Bill 3329, which would increase the allowable amount of tax credits for certified film production contributions from $20,000,000 to $28,000,000 for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2025.

Committee staff summarized the bill for members and noted the proposed effective date in the bill summary. Witnesses from across the state described concrete local economic impacts tied to film and television production, particularly for small businesses and rural communities.

Rose Harwood, a film‑industry production manager and actor who recently returned to Southern Oregon, said the state incentive helped her secure regular work after moving home and allowed her to advance into associate producer roles on local projects. “This incentive and the high number of productions in Oregon also helped me regularly audition for acting work,” she testified.

Caterer Javier Baltazar told the committee his business was saved by film production contracts after COVID‑era losses; he said productions have hired his team for work across multiple counties and generate recurring revenue for local suppliers.

Haley Starkey, owner of Beyond the Forest in St. Helens, described the tourism and small‑business benefits tied to long‑running film‑related festivals and productions in her community. Starkey said the town’s Halloweentown celebration generates a large income spike for local businesses — she cited a 460% increase in revenue for her shop during the event — and that a recent four‑week film production contract provided the down payment to purchase and restore a historic bank building that had been closed to the public since 1972. Starkey said last year’s celebrations drew 68,000 visitors and generated about $1.2 million in gross revenue for the community, with roughly 35% of attendees from out of state.

Testimony focused on the incentive’s role in creating jobs for production crews and providing steady contracts for local service businesses — caterers, lodgings, restaurants, construction contractors and specialty suppliers. Committee members indicated they would hear additional testimony in a future meeting; no committee action was recorded in this transcript.