Yesterday, April 4, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez signed what has become known as her state’s “Breaking Bad” bill into the Breaking Bad Law. Gov. Martinez had originally vetoed the bill a few weeks ago. It is geared toward returning New Mexico’s film and television industry to international competitiveness.
The law is named, of course, for the acclaimed and popular AMC drama series Breaking Bad, which has filmed at Albuquerque Studios and attracted a steady stream of accolades for the city of Albuquerque, as well as interest from tourists worldwide.
The Breaking Bad Law will increase the state’s rebate for series television production to 30% of a producer’s total qualified spend in New Mexico. Feature films will also be able to get a 30% rebate on resident labor if they use a qualified production facility, and 25% on all of their other expenses. The law also provides for the roll-over of up to $10 million in unused funds in each fiscal year, thus freeing up additional funds for filmmakers, and incorporates numerous technical fixes to make the program more user friendly.
“The phone started ringing right after the legislature passed the bill, even before the governor signed it,” said Wayne Rauschenberger, COO of Albuquerque Studios, where Breaking Bad has been filmed since the facility first opened in 2007. “We’re hearing from a lot of folks that we haven’t heard from in a while, hoping to reserve the stages for summer and fall. Now that it’s official, I’m expecting the floodgates will really open up and we’re going to very busy.”
Dana Arnold, CEO of Albuquerque Studios, praised the bill, thanking Gov. Martinez for signing it. He also said he wanted to thank “Representative Antonio ‘Moe’ Maestas for championing the Breaking Bad Bill, and minority whip Nate Gentry, Senator Phil Griego, House Speaker Ken Martinez, Senate Majority leader Michael Sanchez, and all of the legislators who worked so hard to see this bill passed to create jobs and opportunity for the people of New Mexico.”
Breaking Bad returns this summer on AMC.
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Frank Ockenfels/AMC
