DeSantis Signs Bill Giving Florida Control Over Disney’s Self-Governance District

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis Monday’s bill was signed by the governor to give the state control of the governance and special tax district previously administered by Disney.

Florida lawmakers Created The Reedy Creek Improvement District was a designated economic zone created by Disney in 1967. It is believed to have saved the company several million dollars annually in taxes and fees. The Bill DeSantis signs the establishment of a new state-controlled administrative area called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

“Allowing a corporation to control its own government is bad policy, especially when the corporation makes decisions that impact an entire region,” DeSantis stated in a Statement. “This legislation ends Disney’s self-governing status, makes Disney live under the same laws as everybody else, and ensures that Disney pays its debts and fair share of taxes.”

Disney secretly Acquired Tens of thousands of acres were purchased in central Florida during the 1960s by several shell corporations. The average cost to purchase the land that would become Disney World is $180 an acre. Reedy Creek Improvement District was given permission to levy taxes and issue bonds. It also wrote its own construction and wastewater management laws. This allowed it to avoid the regulatory hurdles faced by other companies in the state.

The new law also eliminates Disney’s exemptions from Florida Fire Prevention Code and Florida Building Code. Additionally, it ensures that Disney pays its own municipal debt. The bill Passed The Florida House was 82-31 while the Senate was 26-9. Both chambers have strong Republican majorities, having been swept by the party in the state’s midterm elections.

After Disney publicly announced its intention to end their special privileges, DeSantis took the first step to strip Disney off these privileges. Opposed A parental rights bill, later signed into law, that prohibited the teaching of sexual orientation or gender identity to children aged kindergarten through third grade was also passed. This exclusive Poll According to The Daily Wire, 64% Americans supported the Florida law, which Disney publicly opposed, including 62% of Democrats, and 57% of Independents.

Bob Iger, Disney CEO, expressed regret at losing special tax and regulatory privileges. He promised that executives would listen more to customers in the future. “I was sorry to see us dragged into that battle, and I have no idea exactly what its ramifications are in terms of the business itself,” In leaked footage, the senior executive stated these words. “What I can say is that the state of Florida has been important to us for a long time, and we have been very important to the state of Florida.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP