Governor Gavin Newsom wants to increase the state's investment in film and television tax credits.

If he gets his wish, the state would award up to $750 million each year to.

production, up from the current $330 million.

His plan would also allow each qualified applicant to receive more money, extend the credit to live action in an animated series, and set aside more dollars toward independent films.

The proposal has drawn fire from both Democrats and Republicans who say the state should prioritize essential programs in a tight budget year.

Newsom has said any funding request from Los Angeles that's unrelated to disaster recovery would be a "nonstarter."

He said the tax credit expansion is key to helping Hollywood recover.

The industry has struggled with a COVID-19 pandemic that shut down productions, a Hollywood writer strike, deadly wildfires, and a growing number of movie productions leaving California for other states offering incentives.

California's share in film industry employment nationwide dropped from 54% in 2010 to 46% in 2023, according to a legislative analysis.

Newsom's idea has united motion picture studios and entertainment industry workers.

California's film tax credit was created in response to other states' incentives.

As of last year, 37 states had similar programs.

California's program is often compared to the unlimited tax credit in Georgia, which is a frequent destination for film production, and to New York's incentives, which increased this year from $700 million to $800 million a year.

California's program is unique.

It is the only state to award credits based on the likelihood of a project creating jobs and boosting the economy.

For CalMatters, I'm Yue Stella Yu.