Sec. 151.3185. PROPERTY USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF MOTION PICTURE, VIDEO, OR AUDIO RECORDINGS AND BROADCASTS. (a) The sale, lease, or rental or storage, use, or other consumption of the following items are exempted from the taxes imposed by this chapter:

(1) tangible personal property that will become an ingredient or component part of:

(A) a motion picture, video, or audio master recording, a copy of which is sold or offered for ultimate sale, licensed, distributed, broadcast, or otherwise exhibited for consideration; or

(B) a broadcast by a producer of cable programs or by a radio or television station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission;

(2) tangible personal property that is necessary or essential to and used or consumed in or during:

(A) the production of a motion picture, video, or audio master recording, a copy of which is sold or offered for ultimate sale, licensed, distributed, broadcast, or otherwise exhibited for consideration; or

(B) the production of a broadcast by or for a cable program producer or by or for a radio or television station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission; and

(3) except as provided by Subsection (c), services that are necessary and essential to and used directly in a production described by Subdivision (2)(A) or (B).

(b) The exemption includes:

(1) cameras, film, and film developing chemicals that are necessary and essential to and used or consumed in a production described by Subsection (a)(2)(A) or (B);

(2) lights, props, sets, teleprompters, microphones, digital equipment, special effects equipment and supplies, and other equipment that is necessary and essential to and used or consumed directly in a production described by Subsection (a)(2)(A) or (B); and

(3) audio or video routing switchers located in a studio that are necessary and essential to and used or consumed directly in a production described by Subsection (a)(2)(A) or (B).

(c) The exemption does not include:

(1) office equipment or supplies;

(2) maintenance or janitorial equipment or supplies;

(3) machinery, equipment, or supplies used in sales, transmission, or transportation activities;

(4) machinery, equipment, or supplies used in distribution activities, unless otherwise exempted by this section;

(5) taxable items that are used incidentally in a production described by Subsection (a)(2)(A) or (B); or

(6) the following taxable items, regardless of whether they are used incidentally in a production described by Subsection (a)(2)(A) or (B):

(A) telecommunications equipment and services;

(B) transmission equipment;

(C) security services;

(D) motor vehicle parking services; and

(E) food ready for immediate consumption.

(d) A production described by Subsection (a)(2)(A) or (B) does not include a production for broadcast that is not intended to be broadcast to either the general public or to cable television service subscribers or paying customers.

(e) The sale of a motion picture, video, or audio master recording by the producer of the master recording is exempt from the taxes imposed by this chapter.

(f) Tangible personal property that is sold to an entity to which 47 C.F.R. Section 73.624(b) applies is exempt from the taxes imposed by this chapter if the property is necessary for the entity to comply with 47 C.F.R. Section 73.682(d).

(g) Tangible personal property that is sold to an entity to which 47 C.F.R. Section 73.404(a) applies is exempt from the taxes imposed by this chapter if the property is necessary to provide the broadcast service described by 47 C.F.R. Section 73.403 or 73.404.

(h) In this section, "master recording" means the principal media on which images, sound, or a combination of images and sound are first fixed and from which copies are commercially made available for sale, license, distribution, broadcast, or exhibition for consideration.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1467, Sec. 2.20, eff. Oct. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1263, Sec. 24, eff. Oct. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 410 (H.B. 2507), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 323 (H.B. 3086), Sec. 1, eff. May 31, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 323 (H.B. 3086), Sec. 2, eff. May 31, 2019.