# Kansas Film Incentives

Source: https://storiara.com/incentives/us/kansas
Last updated: 2026-09-14
Author: Charles Hirschhorn, Storiara

> Kansas has no active film production incentive. Senate Bill 52, which would have created a film and digital media tax credit and sales tax exemption, died in the 2025-2026 session. What Kansas does offer is a state film commission for location and permitting help, no state filming permit, and no hotel occupancy tax on stays longer than 28 days. Productions chasing a credit usually look at Missouri, a short drive from Kansas City, Kansas.

If your budget depends on a state [tax credit](https://storiara.com/glossary/tax-credit), Kansas won't provide one. There is no statewide credit, rebate, or grant for film and TV production as of September 2026. That doesn't rule the state out, but it changes the question from "how much will we get back" to "is the location worth paying full price for."

## The bill that didn't pass

Senate Bill 52 was introduced in 2025 by the Senate Committee on Commerce. It would have enacted the Kansas Film and Digital Media Production Development Act, with an income tax credit and a sales tax exemption administered by the Secretary of Commerce. It cleared the Senate Commerce committee, passed the Senate, and was reported out of the House Committee on Taxation, but the Kansas Legislature's bill page now lists it as died. Nothing in the bill took effect.

Don't build a budget around a future Kansas program. If a new bill passes, the rate, cap, and minimum spend in the final version will be what matters, and those tend to change between introduction and signature.

## What Kansas does give you

The [film commission](https://storiara.com/glossary/film-commission) sits inside the Kansas Department of Commerce in Topeka. Its published services cover pre-production information on crew, vendors, and support services, state laws and approvals, location help, and liaison with state, local, and federal agencies. The practical benefits listed on the Commerce page:

| Item | What it means for the budget |
|---|---|
| No state filming permit | Budget only for city or county permits where you shoot |
| No hotel occupancy tax on stays over 28 days | A long location shoot saves the occupancy tax on crew housing |
| Highway coordination | KDOT and the Kansas Highway Patrol handle state highways; city streets and county roads go through local police or sheriffs |

The Kansas Turnpike runs from the southern border to Kansas City, and Commerce notes that larger and heavier vehicles are allowed on it without special permits, which helps if you're moving a grip truck and generator between Wichita and KC.

## What a $1,000,000 shoot looks like in Kansas

Take a $1,000,000 indie with a four-week shoot in and around Wichita. With no incentive, the state gives back $0. The long-stay rule is the only statewide saving: if 20 out-of-town crew stay 30 nights, those rooms fall outside the hotel occupancy tax. The dollar value depends on the local rate where you book, so get it from the hotel before you lock the budget.

Now compare the same show across the state line in [Missouri](https://storiara.com/incentives/us/missouri), assuming it qualifies and funds remain in the year's $8 million film allocation. If $800,000 of the budget is qualifying Missouri spend, the 20% base credit alone is $160,000, before any uplifts. Missouri's credit is transferable, so it turns into cash when you sell it, at whatever price the buyer pays.

For a $5,000,000 production the difference scales. At the same 80% in-state ratio, Missouri's base credit would be $800,000, while Kansas still returns nothing. Run your own split through the [incentive calculator](https://storiara.com/tools/incentive-calculator).

## When shooting in Kansas still makes sense

Some scripts need Kansas specifically: wheat country horizons, a real Flint Hills ranch, a small-town main street that hasn't been redone. Picture-driven projects sometimes decide the look is worth more than the credit. Others split the schedule, shooting establishing exteriors and a few days of practical locations in Kansas and moving interiors and the bulk of payroll to a state that pays. If you do that, keep the Kansas days tidy in the budget so the out-of-state CPA doesn't have to untangle which invoices belong where. The [how film tax credits work](https://storiara.com/blog/how-film-tax-credits-work) guide explains why that separation matters at audit.

## Neighboring states

Missouri is the closest and most common alternative. [Oklahoma](https://storiara.com/incentives/us/oklahoma), [Nebraska](https://storiara.com/incentives/us/nebraska), and [Colorado](https://storiara.com/incentives/us/colorado) also border Kansas; check each state's page against your locations before you pick a base. For a national view, start at the [incentives hub](https://storiara.com/incentives). Storiara's [budgeting feature](https://storiara.com/feature/budgeting) is one place to model the same show in two states.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Kansas have a film tax credit?

No. Kansas has no active film tax credit or rebate. Senate Bill 52, which would have created one, is listed as died on the Kansas Legislature's site for the 2025-2026 session.

### Do I need a state permit to film in Kansas?

No. The Kansas Department of Commerce says there are no state filming permits, but cities and counties may require their own. The film commission can point you to the right office.

### Are there any tax breaks for productions staying in Kansas?

The Kansas Department of Commerce lists one: no hotel occupancy tax for stays longer than 28 days.

### What's the closest film incentive to Kansas?

Missouri's Show MO Act credit starts at 20% of qualifying Missouri expenses and is transferable. Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Colorado also border Kansas and each should be checked against your locations.

## Sources

- [Filming in Kansas (Kansas Department of Commerce)](https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/filming-in-kansas/)
- [SB 52, 2025-2026 Session (Kansas Legislature)](https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb52)
- [Senate Bill No. 52 as introduced (Kansas Legislature)](https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/sb52_00_0000.pdf)