Stacey Heaton — Testified in support on behalf of Rural County Representatives of California and the California State Association of Counties.
Stacey Heaton — Stacey Heaton, speaking for the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), testifies in support and explains that RCRC represents 40 rural counties heavily affected by wildfires. She describes how many communities are still struggling to rebuild, with delays in insurance and recovery contributing to residents leaving California. She argues that settlement dollars are needed to help wildfire survivors be made whole after the disaster, including addressing the emotional harm caused by the fires.
Ross Gordon — Policy analyst with Origins Council, testifying in opposition and representing small rural cultivators.
Dr. Len Silver — Pediatrician and director at the Public Health Institute, testifying in opposition to the tax adjustment repeal element of AB 8.
Corey Brown — Corey Brown, speaking for Resources Legacy Fund, states that the organization is opposed to the measure as written but would support it if amended.
AB1138 — AB 1138 is presented as a jobs-focused bill that would strengthen and modernize California’s film and television tax credit program. Supporters describe it as a negotiated effort to retain and bring back entertainment jobs, expand qualifying productions, raise the tax credit rate, and better support independent productions. The discussion emphasizes that the program is intended to generate broader economic activity and tax revenue, helping keep California’s creative economy competitive and thriving.
AB1138 — AB 1138 was presented in a support segment: Rebecca Rhine urged the committee to support the bill as beneficial to California working families, and shortly afterward the chair invited others in the audience to line up and speak in support of AB 1138.
AB1138 — AB 1138 is taken up as item 7, with the chair recommending a do pass motion. The committee then votes and the motion passes 6-1.
Jason George — Jason George, an actor and SAG-AFTRA leader, testified in support of AB 1138 as a jobs bill aimed at keeping film and television production in California. He described his own experience working on productions that moved out of state, forcing him to choose between family stability and employment, and noted that most actors do not have such a choice. He argued that production is steadily leaving California because of aggressive incentives elsewhere, costing the state jobs, tax revenue, tourism, small business income, and other economic benefits. He emphasized that actors are workers, many do not earn enough to qualify for health insurance, and that California should support the industry that sustains communities and drives tourism rather than losing those benefits to other states and countries.
Rebecca Rime — Introduced as the Associate National Executive Director for the Directors Guild of America and president of the Entertainment Union Coalition.
Alex Aguilar — Introduced as business manager for LiUNA Local 724.
Alex Aguilar — Alex Aguilar, business manager and secretary-treasurer of LiUNA Local 724, testified on behalf of the Entertainment Union Coalition in support of AB 1138. He argued that production is leaving California because of aggressive tax incentives elsewhere, causing severe job losses and high unemployment in the industry, especially outside Los Angeles. He said California’s program has not changed since 2014 while other regions, such as Hungary, have built stronger production infrastructure to compete. Aguilar warned that losing the industry would damage California’s economy, health and pension benefits, and the future prospects of young workers, emphasizing that the incentive is about preserving jobs, families, communities, and the California dream. He concluded by urging the committee to keep these jobs in California.
Rebecca Rhine — Rebecca Rhine, representing the Entertainment Union Coalition, testified in support of AB 1138 and urged the committee to back the funding increase as a way to deliver real value for workers and the state. She said the coalition negotiated with the MPA and consulted many stakeholders, and that the agreement before the committee reflects broad compromise and urgency. Rhine argued the funding would preserve and restore industry-standard jobs with health and pension benefits and safe working conditions, generate substantial work for crew and background actors, and expand eligibility for health benefits. She also emphasized the broader economic impact on ancillary businesses and tourism across California, citing productions that benefited from the incentive and noting that the investment supports storytelling and local economies statewide. She closed by asking for support on behalf of the coalition’s 165,000 California members.
Dejan Ellis Jr. — Identified himself as business manager at IATSE Local 80 and stated strong support, noting gripping saved his life and his dad's life.
Alex Torres — Spoke on behalf of Warner Bros. Discovery in strong support.
Shane Gusman — Spoke on behalf of the California Teamsters Public Affairs Council and SAG-AFTRA in support.
Jackie Onus — Spoke on behalf of Netflix in support.
Leslie Simmons — Identified herself as field rep and political coordinator with the Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839, in strong support.
IATSE Local 839 speaker — Stated strong support for the bill.
Cheryl Eckert — Hair and Makeup, Local 706 business representative, spoke in huge support.
Crystal Can — Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839 People of Color Committee co-chair, spoke in support.
Patrice Madrigo — Local 706 makeup and hair, spoke in strong support.
Molly Malo — Spoke on behalf of the Walt Disney Company in support.
Kibir Akhtar — Director and member of the Directors Guild of America, testified in strong support on behalf of unemployed friends.
Lacey Chapel — Animation Guild member and production assistant, testified in strong support on behalf of unemployed friends.
Angela Moss — Angela Moss of Local 706, the political coordinator for makeup and hair, began her testimony and spoke in strong support on behalf of the union’s more than 2,400 members.
Al-Ais Balderrama — Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 700, spoke in strong support.
Doug Sebum — Sound editor with Local 700 living in the San Francisco Bay Area, spoke in strong support.
Vanessa Boyan — Actress introduced as the next speaker.
Vanessa Bourne — Actress and SAG-AFTRA member testified in strong support and urged production to stay in California.
Jana Bach — Animation Guild member and visual development artist at Marvel Animation, testified in support.
Sally 4CA — Casting and productions with Wild Philly Films, independent filmmaker, testified in strong support.
Jennifer West — Sacramento Film Commissioner and member of the Flix Ledge Committee, testified in strong support.
Dean Takuno — Dean of Light, Film Lighting Services, testified in strong support.
Sam Conklin — IATSE Local 80 member and co-founder of the Mutual Aid Pantry, testified in strong support.
Aaron Leong — Local cinematographer and Steadicam operator, testified in strong support on behalf of friends and family across the state.
Matt Dubin — COO of Formosa Group and member of the California Production Coalition, testified in support.
Beth Johnson — Teamsters Local 399 member working in studio and transportation, testified in strong support of the bill.
Chris McHalee — Spoke on behalf of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in support of the bill.
Melissa Patak — Motion Picture Association representative testified in support.
Tracy Brown — Local 399 Teamster testified in strong support.
Cutter Ray Palacios — Cutter Ray Palacios introduced himself as a rank-and-file member of IATSE Local 80 and SAG-AFTRA, treasurer for the Association of Mental Health Coordinators, and a leader with Stay in L.A.; he also noted a personal detail about being a new homeowner in Albuquerque, New Mexico, while testifying in strong support.
Chuck Parker — Art Directors Guild, IATSE Local 800 member, testified in very strong support.
Ann Lee — Ann Lee, a second camera assistant with the Cinematographers Guild who lives and works in Oakland, testified in strong support of the bill.
Alex Toniston — National Executive Director of IATSE Local 600 and member of the San Francisco Labor Council, testified in strong support.
Joanne Desmond — IATSE Local 16 member from the San Francisco Bay Area, testified in strong support.
Mickey Bursallion — Local 600 member and cinematographers/publicists representative, testified in strong support.
Robert Dykes — Local 399 Hollywood Teamsters member and vendor to the industry, testified in strong support.
Terry Friedman — Terry Friedman, identified as the IATSE Local 80 Green Committee Chair and a small business owner from Concord, testified in strong support.
Renata Ray — IATSE Local 44 business representative, representing over 6,000 members and the largest craft unit in Los Angeles, testified in strong support.