Kevin Costner, of "Yellowstone" fame, says the Utah Legislature should pass SB49, providing a bigger tax break to movie productions, if it wants Costner to film his Western "Horizon" in Utah. Other states, such as Montana, Louisiana and Georgia are giving movie productions bigger tax breaks.
A bill meant to protect health care workers from violence and a rule change to limit press access in the Utah Senate won final legislative approval during a busy morning for the Utah Legislature on Tuesday.
The Senate gave final approval to HB32, which would offer enhanced protection from assault to all health care workers in Utah, and adopted SR1 to limit press access at the Capitol. The Senate also passed a film incentives program, which some hope could bring future Hollywood productions to rural Utah, including Kevin Costner’s planned cinematic universe of Western epics.
A resolution to limit media access to certain areas without permission from senators appears ready to sail through the Utah Senate. The measure was heard during a lively committee hearing last week, in which media representatives expressed concern that the move would limit transparency and accountability.