Florida Senate passed legislation on Wednesday to end Disney’s special tax privilege and self-governing status on a 23-16 vote.
On Tuesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced he was calling on the Special Session to file legislation to terminate all special districts that were enacted in Florida prior to 1968 and removal of exemptions from the big tech accountability law.
The Florida Legislature will be meeting this week to consider the congressional reapportionment plan for Florida for the next ten years. Gov. Ron DeSantis considered getting rid of special districts enacted before 1968.
“I am announcing today that we are expanding the call of what they are going to be considering this week. And so yes, they will be considering the congressional map, but they also will be considering termination of all special districts that were enacted in Florida prior to 1968, and that includes the Reedy Creek Improvement District,” DeSantis said at a news conference in The Villages.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District, which was created by state lawmakers in 1967, is the governing jurisdiction and special taxing district for the land of Walt Disney World Resort.
Rep. Randy Fine filed HB3C on Tuesday to end six of 1,844 special districts, including the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
“Disney is a guest in Florida. Today, we remind them. @GovDeSantis just expanded the Special Session so I could file HB3C which eliminates Reedy Creek Improvement District, a 50 yr-old special statute that makes Disney to exempt from laws faced by regular Floridians,” Rep. Fine tweeted.
Today, Florida lawmakers passed legislation ending Disney’s tax privilege, self-governing power & special exemption status. The new bill is now heading to the House.
Republicans need to learn from DeSantis. Never stop going on OFFENSE! Disney messed with the wrong Governor and they are paying the price. Bill now goes to the House. Follow me to keep updated!
— Tim Swain (@SwainForSenate) April 20, 2022
