LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Speaking at the Reedy Creek Administration Building on Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed legislation that would erase any deal Disney made with the previous special district board, and subject the company to state inspections of all its theme park rides. 

What You Need To Know

DeSantis emphasized the end of Disney’s self governing power, saying the company’s attempt to neuter the power of the board before the governor took it over, is “self dealing and defective,” and that they didn’t provide notice.

“At the end of the day, we made the decision as a state and as people of our elections, that we will not have one corporation serving as its own government. That is not good government, and that is not something we will entertain in Florida.”

“I’ve worked with both leaders of the House and Senate, and there is a bill that will be put out in the Florida legislature that will make sure that the agreements by Disney are revoked,” DeSantis said during Monday’s announcement. “And the people’s will is established and is upheld.”

Under the proposed bill, Land Use and Development Regulations (SB 1604), Disney would have to submit to state ride inspections.

Since Disney parks are the only parks that reside in the former Reedy Creek district, Disney would be the only major theme park in the state that would be subject to state inspections.

Currently, all major theme parks like Universal and SeaWorld, along with Disney, inspect their own attractions and send a report to the state.

During the announcement, DeSantis also alluded to the future possibilities of unused land around Disney that is owned by the special district, stating, “the possibilities are endless.”

“Come to think of it, people are like, what should we do with this land? People have said maybe create a state park, maybe more amusement parks. Some have even said we need another state prison. Who knows? The possibilities are endless,” DeSantis said.

State representative Anna Eskamani says the governor is on a witch-hunt.

“Governor Ron DeSantis is clearly on a witch hunt against Disney world because they defended LGBTQ plus kids, the policies.  They are proposing on a punitive nature and targeting one specific corporation for expressing their first amendment rights,” said Eskamani.

The background is important.

Disney used to control the board, which decides what happens on Disney’s Central Florida property.

After a political spat, the governor took it over with his own people.

But when Disney still controlled it, they basically took away the board’s power, and the governor is trying to have the legislature nullify that deal.

Disney says they did everything in the open and the deal should stay.

We’ll have more on this story today on Spectrum News and the Spectrum News app.