Florida Senate Passes Bill to Allow Central Florida Tourism Board to Revoke Disney Development Agreements

The Florida Senate has passed a bill that grants authority to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board, a tourism board appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis, to revoke development agreements previously signed by its predecessor. This new legislation will allow the board to cancel agreements signed up to three months before the board's formation, furthering DeSantis' opposition towards the Walt Disney Co (DIS.N).
 

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Florida's legislature established the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board in February, replacing the Reedy Creek Improvement District as the governing body overseeing development in and around Disney's theme parks. The board's formation reportedly responded to criticisms that the previous governing body had engaged in "backroom deals" with Disney, allowing the corporation to operate without sufficient oversight.
 

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This recent development is the latest in a series of tensions between Disney, the largest employer in central Florida, and DeSantis, a Republican. Last year, Disney criticized a state law prohibiting classroom discussions on sexuality and gender identity with younger children, leading to ongoing feuds between the corporation and DeSantis. The Governor has since repeatedly criticized "woke Disney" in public remarks and has been accused of using state power to punish the company for exercising its freedom of speech.
 
Disney has responded to DeSantis' actions with a federal lawsuit, accusing the Governor of unlawfully using state power to retaliate against the company. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board has also filed a lawsuit in state court, seeking to void any "secret deals" that favored Disney. The outcome of these legal proceedings is uncertain. Still, they are likely to continue to impact the relationship between Disney and DeSantis and the operations of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board.