Bill stripping Disney’s powers and overhauling Reedy Creek goes to DeSantis
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – The Florida legislature approved a bill that strips Disney of its self-governing powers and overhauls the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
The Senate passed the bill 26-9 Friday following the House’s approval Thursday evening. The legislation now moves to Gov. Ron DeSantis for final approval.
The legislation allows DeSantis to appoint members, who are confirmed by the Senate, to the district’s board. The changes strip Disney of its control over the district, ultimately doing away with many of the company’s self-governing powers.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District will also be renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
The governor’s office said the bill will end Disney’s ability to; build airports, nuclear facilities, toll roads, boundary changes to their property, award noncompetitive construction contracts, and more.
Rep. Fred Hawkins, St. Cloud, carried the legislation in the House while Sen. Travis Huston carried the bill in the Senate.
Hutson said the board would operate like a government. For example, if Disney needs to change the zoning for land, he said the company would present its plan to the board. Hutson emphasized that the daily operations of Disney like ticketing and rides would continue “to function daily as you see it right now.”
Other Republicans, including Sen. Debbie Mayfield, R-Indian River County, noted that Walt Disney’s original dream was for the district to be a residential community instead of a theme park; therefore, special privileges like building a power plant should be revoked.
“There is nothing in this bill that tells Walt Disney that they cannot do whatever they want within their Walt Disney property,” Mayfield said. “They can do all the fun, they could do all the nonprofit, reach out that they want to. They can do whatever they want to do with their employees. There is nothing in this bill that says they are restricted to do what they want to do within their boundaries of their park.”
Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, shared her frustration with those who misread the bill to assume the changes control the theme parks.
“It doesn’t manage the parks. It doesn’t have anything to do with the parks,” Passidomo said.
Last year, lawmakers passed legislation to dissolve Disney’s Reedy Creek district. However, Republican leadership called lawmakers into a Special Session this week in an effort to make sure Disney’s estimated $700 million in debts would not be dropped to the taxpayers once the district dissolved.
“No one in this room had a problem with Disney before the governor did. Nobody. Nobody. So it’s not because there’s a genuine problem. There are 50 cities that I would go after before this. There are 30 special districts I would go after first because they have demonstrated noncompliance, no respect for the integrity of this body,” Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Broward County, said.
Democrats advocated for people from the local area to be appointed to the district’s board.
“It does not make sense that that structure be driven by one individual who we all know was mad at Disney last year because this company expressed first amendment rights and defended LGBTQ people,” Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said Thursday on the House floor.
