Day to day, my work at the state Senate can be pretty tedious and detail-oriented when reading and editing bills, but every once in a while, there comes a string of events that are exciting.

A few days ago, we introduced HB-1286, a film production jobs bill that I’m sponsoring with a Republican colleague in the House.  Almost 200 producers, editors, cinematographers, and screenwriters came to the Capitol for Colorado Cinema Day. 

Formerly in theater and television myself, I was excited to speak at the morning rally (in 10 degree weather) about the need to bring back film and tourism jobs to our state. For almost a decade, we have steadily lost these jobs to other states and now risk losing the entire infrastructure for the industry unless we act now.

Colorado has the natural beauty and diversity to appear on any silver screen, but that’s not enough.  We have to work to retain existing film jobs in Colorado and bring back those we’ve lost. We can do this by creating a better business environment for film productions. The legislation would help us compete with other states’ incentive programs and begin a guaranteed loan program that would be the first of its kind in the country. 

The bill applies to productions for films, television series, commercials, documentaries, music videos, and even video game creation.  The change would allow Colorado to compete with other states that are currently attracting film projects. 

The bill will create jobs in Colorado by requiring companies that take advantage of the loan guarantee to have 50 percent of their workforce be Colorado residents. These are good, high-paying, and clean jobs that can be in both urban and rural settings.

A robust film industry in Colorado can also help retain or regain tourism jobs in restaurants, shops, bed and breakfasts, etc. Colorado has served as a home to historic films like “City Slickers,” “True Grit” and “Thelma and Louise,” yet we have not had one film made here for four years. That is why we’re working hard together in a bipartisan way to get the future classics filmed right here in our backyard.

Although I love the legislative work, I also love getting out in the district and having town halls, seminars, and events to help our community. Coming from business and human resources, I’m excited to do a series of events for small businesses and job seekers. So, back by popular demand, I’ll be hosting my second “Guide to Small Business Growth” on Feb. 25 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Greenwood Village City Hall. 

We’ll have business experts and workforce leaders there to give tips on how to retain and grow your small business. It will be interactive, so bring a pen and paper.  The small businesses in our neighborhoods help provide us with consumer choices and a sense of community, and perhaps most importantly in this recovery, jobs.  Everyone is welcome to this free, nonpartisan event. 

For regular legislative updates:

Sign up for my nonpartisan email newsletter by emailing me at Linda.newell.senate@gmail.com. 

Come to one of my regular nonpartisan town halls at Blueberry’s Bakery and Café on the second Saturday of each month or South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce on the first Tuesday night of the month.

Go to my website senlindanewell.com

See live updates on my Facebook page: Senator Linda Newell or @sennewell on Twitter.

To see it for yourself:

Come on down to the Capitol and shadow me as long as you like. I’ll take you out on the Senate floor, to committee, or to events I’m attending that day.

In the words of a famous movie character, “Help me help you!”

State Sen. Linda Newell serves District 26, which includes Littleton, Englewood, Sheridan, Cherry Hills Village, west Centennial, BowMar and Columbine Valley. She can be reached at Linda.Newell.senate@gmail.com