TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Gov. Ron DeSantis would take management over the board of a particular governing district Walt Disney World operates in Florida below a invoice launched Monday, because the Republican governor punishes the corporate over its opposition to the so-called “Don’t Say Homosexual” legislation.
Republican leaders within the statehouse, in coordination with DeSantis, have begun a particular legislative session to restructure the Reedy Creek Enchancment District, because the Disney authorities is thought.
The proposal would largely go away the district and its skills intact however change its title to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and require the governor to nominate a five-member oversight board. Members beforehand had been named by entities managed by Disney.
Lawmakers are additionally contemplating a proposal to create a state division targeted on migrant transportation, after the governor flew a bunch of South American migrants from Texas to Massachusetts final 12 months in protest of federal border coverage.
The session continues a spotlight by DeSantis deal with social points together with sexual orientation, gender and immigration because the Republican governor wades into political divides on his path to a possible 2024 presidential run.
The assembly is the most recent improvement in a high-profile feud between DeSantis and Disney over the corporate’s criticism of a legislation dubbed by critics as “Don’t Say Homosexual,” which bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender identification in kindergarten by third grade and classes deemed not age-appropriate.
The governor, in going after Disney, displayed a willingness to penalize one of many state’s largest employers and political donors, reinforcing the combative management model that has propelled him to nationwide political stardom and appeals to conservative major voters.
AP Photograph/Ted Shaffrey, File
A spokeswoman for Reedy Creek didn’t instantly return an emailed request for remark.
Along with Disney, DeSantis is utilizing the particular session to advance his nationwide agenda on immigration and election fraud.
Lawmakers are anticipated to create the Unauthorized Alien Transport Program within the governor’s administration to move migrants throughout the nation if they’ve been processed by the federal authorities.
The laws comes after DeSantis final 12 months used a part of a $12 million fund, paid for by taxpayers, to fly about 50 South American migrants from Texas to the Massachusetts resort island of Martha’s Winery, drawing widespread condemnation.
The flight additionally led to authorized questions as a result of the governor’s workplace paid for the journey utilizing cash meant to move migrants out of Florida, not Texas or every other state. The invoice lawmakers will think about specifies that future flights may transfer migrants from anyplace within the U.S.
One other proposal anticipated to go throughout the session would improve the power of the statewide prosecutor to deliver election crime expenses, a transfer meant to strengthen the ability of the governor’s new election police power.
DeSantis final 12 months pushed lawmakers to create a legislation enforcement unit targeted on election crimes, addressing one other concern of conservative voters after the 2020 election. However within the months since, among the unit’s expenses have been dismissed by judges due to jurisdiction points.
The session is predicted to ship DeSantis a political victory in his struggle in opposition to Disney, a squabble that started final 12 months when the leisure big publicly opposed the “Don’t Say Homosexual” legislation. The corporate stated it will pause political donations within the state and help organizations working to oppose the legislation.
DeSantis and different Republicans moved rapidly to criticize Disney, calling it a purveyor of “woke” ideologies which are inappropriate for kids.
At DeSantis’ request, the GOP-dominated statehouse in April accepted laws to eradicate Disney’s Reedy Creek authorities by June 2023, starting a intently watched course of that may decide the construction of presidency that controls the corporate’s sprawling property.
The creation of the Reedy Creek district was instrumental in Disney’s resolution to construct close to Orlando within the Nineteen Sixties, when firm leaders instructed the state they deliberate to construct a futuristic metropolis — the Experimental Prototype Neighborhood of Tomorrow, also called Epcot.
The proposed metropolis was to incorporate a fast transit system and concrete planning improvements, so Disney wanted autonomy within the district for constructing and deciding methods to use the land, they stated. The futuristic metropolis by no means materialized, and as an alternative Epcot morphed right into a second theme park that opened in 1982.
Having a separate authorities permits the Disney authorities to situation bonds and supply zoning, hearth safety, utilities and infrastructure companies on its land. Republican critics of the district argue it offers Disney a business benefit unavailable to others.
The particular session may even regulate language in present legal guidelines addressing endorsement offers for faculty athletes.
Florida was one of many first states to go a legislation permitting faculty athletes to revenue off their title, picture or likeness, however it doesn’t enable folks affiliated with universities to assist safe endorsement offers. The proposal would raise that provision to make Florida extra aggressive with different states that don’t have the restriction.
Lawmakers may even think about a invoice to offer extra reduction cash for Hurricane Ian and Nicole restoration efforts.
Related Press author Mike Schneider in Orlando contributed to this report.