Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Monday, Sep 01, 2025

Florida Senate and House pass bill that would strip Disney of special self-governing status

Florida Senate and House pass bill that would strip Disney of special self-governing status

The bill comes amid a feud with the company over its opposition to a contentious new state law which limits discussion of LGBTQ issues in schools.

The Florida Senate and House have both passed a bill that would dissolve the special taxing district that allows Walt Disney Co to self-govern in its theme park area.

The Republican-led Senate voted 23 to 16 to back the measure, while in the House, also Republican-led, the majority was 70-to-38.

The bill now heads to Governor Ron DeSantis, who is all but guaranteed to sign it.

It comes amid a feud with the entertainment giant over its opposition to a contentious new state law which limits discussion of LGBTQ issues in schools.

Disney's special status, which was granted in 1967, allows the company to self-govern by collecting taxes and providing emergency services.

The controversial law has been condemned by critics who say it marginalises LGBTQ people.


The proposal could have huge tax implications for Disney, whose series of theme parks transformed Orlando into one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.

Mr DeSantis wrote in a campaign fundraising email on Wednesday that if "Disney wants to pick a fight, they chose the wrong guy", adding that he will "not allow a woke corporation based in California to run our state".

The measures, pushed by Mr DeSantis, mark an intensification of his ongoing feud with Disney after the company said it would suspend political donations in the state and was committed to supporting organisations working to oppose the 'Don't Say Gay' law.

The law, signed by Mr DeSantis last month, bans lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity to children under the age of nine and has been condemned by critics who say it marginalises LGBTQ people.

However, supporters who back the policy say it is reasonable and that parents should address such topics with children, not teachers.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is widely seen as a presidential contender in 2024.


How would the bill impact Disney?


The company controls about 25,000 acres in the Orlando area, and the district allows the company to build new structures and pay impact fees for such construction without the approval of a local planning commission.

The bill would eliminate the Reedy Creek Improvement District, as the Disney government is known, as well as a handful of other similar districts by June 2023.

Mr DeSantis has hinted in the last few weeks that he wants to do away with Disney's protections, saying he doesn't "support special privileges in law just because a company is powerful".

Walt Disney's chief executive Bob Chapek faced a backlash from staff over the company's initial response to the 'Don't Say Gay' law


In a surprise move, Mr DeSantis asked politicians to consider the legislation during a special session he called this week.

It comes as a Disney heir, Charlee Disney, the daughter of Roy P Disney who is the great-nephew of Walt Disney and the co-founder of Walt Disney Co, recently came out as trans.

However, the company came under fire for initially failing to take a public stand against Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' law, which led to staff walkouts.

The move to strip Disney of self-governing status signals the latest blow in a culture war harnessed by Mr DeSantis as he runs for re-election, through staunch opposition to liberal policies on race, gender and abortion.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Israeli Airstrike in Yemen Kills Houthi Prime Minister
After the Shock of Defeat, Iranians Yearn for Change
YouTube Altered Content by Artificial Intelligence – Without Permission
Iran Faces Escalating Water Crisis as Protests Spread
More Than Half a Million Evacuated as Typhoon Kajiki Heads for Vietnam
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Trump Backs Putin’s Land-for-Peace Proposal Amid Kyiv’s Rejection
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
United States Sells Luxury Yacht Amadea, Valued at Approximately $325 Million, in First Sale of a Seized Russian Yacht Since the Invasion of Ukraine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
×