From the HERE City State Desk
Republican legislative leaders have promised an extra $31 million for North Carolina’s film grant program, which had run short of money to fund rebates for new productions.
State Senate Majority Leader Michael Lee announced the pledge Tuesday at Cinespace Studios in Wilmington. He produced a letter signed by Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, House Speaker Destin Hall, Rep. Ted Davis and himself promising the one-time appropriation for new film projects in the 2026-27 fiscal year, to be available before Dec. 31 and prioritized for projects in the Wilmington area.
The money would come on top of $46 million already allocated for 2026-27. The General Assembly is out of session, and a formal vote is planned for mid-November. Lee called the money an emergency stopgap and said the program needs to be reassessed next year.
The letter blamed the shortfall on mismanagement at the state Department of Commerce, which is led by an appointee of Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. The department has said it operated under guidance from legislative and budget staff, and warned this summer of little to no program activity in the coming years.
Industry leaders welcomed the pledge. Lee’s Democratic opponent, Jessica Bichler, called it a promise rather than a true appropriation and said the timing, a month before Election Day, was aimed at winning votes.