There is a new wrinkle in the ongoing feud between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and The Walt Disney Company.
On Friday, Mr. DeSantis signed a bill that gives the board that oversees Disney World’s government services the power to void development contracts already approved for the resort.
For now, at least, the new law is a relatively minor development in the ongoing dispute between Mr. DeSantis and Disney over a potential expansion of the company’s 25,000-acre theme park resort near Orlando. That’s because Disney and the board have already sued each other over the development deal. The issue is essentially on hold, awaiting action by the judicial system.
Disney declined to comment on Friday.
The development agreement was approved by a previous board of directors controlled by Disney. The current board of directors, whose members Mr. DeSantis appointed earlier this year, decided to void the deal, arguing it was illegal.
Last week, Disney sued its board and Mr. DeSantis in federal court, alleging a “campaign aimed at government retaliation.” On Monday, the board filed a lawsuit in state court as part of an effort to void the contract.
The Florida legislature passed the bill on Thursday. Originally, it had nothing to do with Disney. As introduced in early March, the bill’s purpose was to update the comprehensive land use planning requirements by local governments. At the suggestion of Mr. DeSantis, the section corresponding to Disney was added last month. Democrats opposed the amendment, saying it set a dangerous precedent for state interference in contracts with individual companies.
“Beyond the Disney drama, let’s talk about the idea of canceling a contract you don’t like,” Anna Escamani, the Democratic state representative for the Orlando area, said during the debate.
The conflict between Mr. DeSantis and Disney began in March last year. Disney joined other companies in criticizing state education laws that ban classroom discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity, especially among young students. began attacking Disney as an “awakened” corporation and launched an effort to limit the autonomy that had been maintained within the state for many years.
They set their sights on the special tax district created in 1967, effectively turning Disney World into its own county. This gave Disney control over planning for fire protection, security, waste management, road maintenance, bond issuance, and most of all, real estate development.
In February, legislators stripped Disney of control of the district’s five-member board and handed it over to the governor. has approved a specific development agreement.
One of the deals gives Disney the ability to build 14,000 additional hotel rooms, a fifth theme park, and three smaller parks. Another is to limit the use of adjacent land. For example, no strip clubs. At Disney World, he already has four theme parks, two water parks and 18 Disney-owned hotels. Shopping mall 220 acre sports complex.
