The House Business Committee has approved HB 498, to extend Idaho’s law allowing for a tax incentive for movie productions so it will expire in 2020 instead of in 2014. The incentive has never been funded, so it’s not been used yet. But Idaho Commerce Director Jeff Sayer said, “We do see merit on the horizon. … Keep this option open for us by extending the sunset, and we’ll come back with the funding request when we’re ready.”

Sayer said, “We are seeing momentum in this industry. Our state’s a beautiful state, it is something we could put on display. … These folks come in, they spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in a region in a short period of time.” The bill now moves to the full House.