1. (1) There is created the Kentucky Film Office, which shall be attached to the Cabinet for Economic Development for administrative purposes only. The office shall be headed by an executive director selected and compensated as provided in KRS 154.12-282(2)(e). The executive director shall have the authority to hire staff, including a marketing and development director, contract for services, expend funds, and operate the normal business activities of the council.

   1. (a) Coordinating with
2. (2) The duties of the Kentucky Film Office shall include but not be limited to: local local and regional film offices or tourism commissions on issues impacting the film industry in Kentucky, including streamlining local permitting processes;
3. (b) Marketing Kentucky as a location for film production;
4. (c) Providing assistance to production companies for compliance with Subchapter 61 of KRS Chapter 154;
5. (d) Assisting film studios and workforce training programs to increase the film production workforce;
6. (e) Coordinating with the Kentucky Film Leadership Council established in KRS 154.12-282 to develop marketing strategies to promote and grow the film production industry in Kentucky;
7. (f) Creating a Kentucky Film Office website and a one-stop portal to provide information local and regional commissions, personnel, filming locations, permitting, and other matters relevant to the film industry; and to film producers regarding studios,
8. (g) Adopting the recommendations of the council created pursuant to KRS 154.12-282 and promulgating regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A necessary to conduct the operations of the office.

9. (3) The office shall receive and retain all tax incentive application fees collected pursuant to KRS 154.61-030. The nonrefundable application fee that's currently payable to the office upon submission of a tax incentive application shall be determined by the total amount of qualifying expenditures and qualifying payroll expenditures, as defined in KRS 154.61-010. If the total is:

   1. (a) Less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), the application fee shall be two hundred fifty dollars ($250);
   2. (b) Between fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) and one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the application fee shall be five hundred dollars ($500); or
   3. (c) More than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the application fee shall be one thousand dollars ($1,000).
10. (4) The office may accept contributions, grants, and other property of value to hold and apply to projects for which the office is created. Any funds not expended at the close of a fiscal year shall not lapse but shall be carried forward into the next fiscal year. Notwithstanding KRS 142.406, for the period beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, two and one-half percent (2.5%) of the transient room tax collected pursuant to KRS 142.400, up to the maximum amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), shall be transferred to the office and dedicated to staff and operational costs.

Effective: July 1, 2025

History: Created 2025 Ky. Acts ch. 91, sec. 1, effective July 1, 2025.