New bill would give Florida Gov. DeSantis control over Disney district
Lawmakers will return to work in Tallahassee today for the second day of a special session. This morning we now know the details of one of the biggest issues being talked about. The bill to change Disney's Reedy Creek Improvement District. New 6th is Mark Layman has been looking into the proposal and joins us now live from Disney this morning. Mark, the biggest change would be who appoints board members? Yes, the current board was chosen by Disney because it owns nearly 98 percent of the land in Reedy Creek. After this new bill, that control over appointing the board would shift into the governor's hands. Basically, it's about changing who controls this Reedy Creek Improvement District.
Historian Richard Fogelsong reacting to a bill filed during a Florida lawmaker special session. He says the plan will significantly take away control from the Walt Disney Company. The question becomes, I think, for the state legislature, what's broken that needs to be fixed? The new bill renaming Reedy Creek to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the big change is all five members of its governing board would be appointed by the governor and none of them could have any ties to a theme park company for at least three years before taking their positions. What happened at Reedy Creek and what's set to happen if there is no reform is damaging to our constituents. Democrats say the bill is unfair punishment for Disney criticizing the parental rights and education law. While Republicans are calling it a new era of accountability and transparency, the governor's office releasing a statement saying in part, until Governor DeSantis acted, the Walt Disney Company maintained sole control over the district. This power amounted to an unaccountable corporate kingdom.
It's important to note that all of the debt Reedy Creek currently has would shift into to become the responsibility of the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. Members are expected to vote on this new bill by the end of the week. We're now reporting live in Orange County, Mark Layman, getting results.
DeSantis, Disney