Staff Reports
This week, the Florida legislature is expected to pass a bill that will abolish the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a special advantage granted to the Walt Disney Company back in 1967. Governor Ron DeSantis’ office has promised that the new law will bring an era of accountability and transparency to the mega-company.
Florida Unveils Plan to 'Dissolve' Disney's Self-Governing Status https://t.co/kad6s50S06
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 6, 2023
The legislation will end Disney’s self-governance status permanently and establish a state-regulated board with term limits for Disney and its assets. The state will also have the power to impose taxes on Disney for potential road projects outside of the district. The bill requires Disney to pay the over $700 million in unsecured debt and stops it from acquiring more land through eminent domain. The legislation provides a way to force Disney to support local infrastructure and gives no control of the district to the left-leaning local government in Orange County.
The proposed law was motivated by Disney’s controversial claim that the state was targeting the LGBTQ+ community through a law that prohibits the teaching of sexual content to children in early grade school. In response, Disney issued a statement affirming its commitment to advocating for the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ individuals both within the company and in the wider community in Florida and the country as a whole.
The 1967 agreement granted Disney exceptional privileges, including self-governance with a board chosen by Disney, the power to construct airports and nuclear facilities, the right to acquire properties outside the district through condemnation or eminent domain, the ability to make unilateral boundary changes, exclusive access to construction contracts, operating standards differing from Florida law, and exemptions from regulatory reviews and approvals that other companies must face.
Governor DeSantis’ office is confident that this new legislation will bring a new era of accountability and transparency to Disney. The bill is expected to pass this week and will be a major step forward in protecting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Florida.
The preceding article is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Townhall
