VA HB 598
Status unknownFilm industry community zones; local designation.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower
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Quick answers
Did VA HB 598 pass?
The current status of VA HB 598 is not known from the official record. Latest recorded action (2026-02-18): Left in Committee Counties, Cities and Towns
What is VA HB 598 about?
Local film industry community zones. Allows localities to establish, by ordinance, one or more zones in a film industry community, defined in the bill as a zone designated by a locality to promote a significant film industry presence and where such presence drives, or has the potential to drive, significant economic activity. The bill provides that a locality, or another political subdivision acting on behalf of the locality, may offer unique benefits to film industry businesses, along with related businesses that serve the needs of the film industry, looking to locate within a film industry community zone, including the reduction of certain fees and taxes. In addition, the bill provides that local governing bodies are authorized to enter into agreements for the payment of economic development incentive grants to such businesses. The bill also allows a governing body to provide for certain regulatory flexibility and incentives and provides that the establishment of a film industry community zone does not preclude a filmmaker from participating in the Governor's Motion Picture Opportunity Fund and the motion picture production tax credit.
Who sponsors VA HB 598?
Shelly A. Simonds is the primary sponsor of VA HB 598.
Description
Local film industry community zones. Allows localities to establish, by ordinance, one or more zones in a film industry community, defined in the bill as a zone designated by a locality to promote a significant film industry presence and where such presence drives, or has the potential to drive, significant economic activity. The bill provides that a locality, or another political subdivision acting on behalf of the locality, may offer unique benefits to film industry businesses, along with related businesses that serve the needs of the film industry, looking to locate within a film industry community zone, including the reduction of certain fees and taxes. In addition, the bill provides that local governing bodies are authorized to enter into agreements for the payment of economic development incentive grants to such businesses. The bill also allows a governing body to provide for certain regulatory flexibility and incentives and provides that the establishment of a film industry community zone does not preclude a filmmaker from participating in the Governor's Motion Picture Opportunity Fund and the motion picture production tax credit.
- Introduced
- 2026-01-13
- Latest action
- 2026-02-18 — Left in Committee Counties, Cities and Towns
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Shelly A. Simondsprimary
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-02-18
Left in Committee Counties, Cities and Towns
2026-01-22
Subcommittee recommends striking from the docket (8-Y 0-N)
2026-01-20
Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #2
referral-committee
2026-01-20
Fiscal Impact statement From TAX (1/20/2026 11:48 am)
2026-01-13
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
referral-committee
2026-01-13
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103722D
filing,introduction
Versions
Documents
Votes
Subcommittee recommends striking from the docket
2026-01-22 · pass · 8-0
Member-level votes (8)
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Nicole Cole: yes
- Garrett McGuire: yes
- James W. Morefield: yes
- M. Keith Hodges: yes
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z
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