Steve Hilton’s Plan to Loosen Rules and Boost California’s Nightlife Scene

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is rolling out an unconventional pitch to revive California’s flagging entertainment and nightlife sector: an “Office of Fun and Freedom” nestled inside the governor’s office.

The proposal would tackle what Hilton sees as a key problem—the maze of permits and regulations that hamstring live music venues, small clubs, community events and other nightlife operators statewide. It’s a timely proposal as California’s entertainment industry continues to hemorrhage production to other states and countries.

Hilton envisions the office as a quick-strike unit within the governor’s office focused on identifying and slashing the permitting and regulatory roadblocks that plague live entertainment and community events. The initiative would cast a wide net, addressing everything from nightclubs and small venues to block parties.

The catchy name “Office of Fun and Freedom” is calculated to draw attention while underscoring Hilton’s argument that California has become suffocating for business owners and entertainment operators.

The nightlife proposal sits alongside Hilton’s earlier announcements about luring film and television production back to the state. Earlier this year, he proposed beefing up California’s film tax credit program to as high as 60% for qualifying productions, with a minimum floor of 40%, while scrapping the annual spending cap and broadening what counts as qualifying expenses.

Hilton has also signaled he’d work with the Trump administration to establish federal film and television incentives. The pitch reflects growing competition from production hubs in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom that are dangling lucrative tax breaks.

Hilton’s proposals arrive as Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration has already expanded its Film and Television Tax Credit Program to $750 million annually. State officials reported projections showing $6.6 billion in economic activity and nearly 35,000 jobs across the state from the expanded program.

The state is also reporting early wins. Feature-film shoot days jumped more than 45% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous quarter, with television drama production also climbing.

As Hilton, backed by President Donald Trump, faces off against Democrat Xavier Becerra in the November 2026 governor’s race, entertainment has emerged as a flashpoint issue. Candidates are debating how hard California should push to compete with rival production centers.

Hilton’s latest pitch expands the conversation beyond Hollywood studios to the broader entertainment ecosystem. By zeroing in on nightlife and small entertainment businesses, he’s framing the problem as one rooted in excessive government regulation—a core Republican argument that cutting red tape could restore California’s status as an entertainment haven.

With the entertainment industry navigating seismic shifts in production, distribution and consumer behavior, expect it to remain a central campaign issue.