John Bazemore/ AP Photo
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill that allows Disney's new real-estate developments to be canceled.
- The Central Tourism Oversight District Board, controlled by DeSantis, has pared back Disney powers.
- Disney and DeSantis are in a long-running feud over the governor's strict social stance in Florida.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stepped up his feud with Disney, threatening the company's real-estate empire with a fresh bill that could see new developments in the state cancelled.
The governor signed into law a bill that allows the newly created Central Tourism Oversight District Board (CTODB) to void development agreements Disney had previously signed.
The board is able to cancel any deals agreed up to three months before its creation.
DeSantis himself has appointed the members of the CTODB, which was formed as a replacement to the Disney-controlled Reedy Creek Improvement District. The change effectively hands DeSantis control of the 25,000 acres of land surrounding Disney World.
"Make no mistake about it, the reason why the legislature had to act was not because of anything we did. It was basically born out of Disney's arrogance that they would be able to subcontract around the duly enacted laws of the state of Florida," DeSantis said in a press conference Friday.
De Santis has been at loggerheads with Disney for months over social issues mainly related to gender rights, repeatedly accusing the entertainment giant of peddling a "woke agenda."
Disney had been able to take advantage of a law that gave it self-governing status, allowing it to pass infrastructure and through Reedy Creek. But this was pared back by DeSantis months after Disney pledged to work to repeal a law employees and LGBTQ rights advocates called "Don't Say Gay."
"We have a fundamental disagreement in this state in terms of what we think is appropriate for children, and what the people in Burbank, California think is appropriate for children," DeSantis said in his press conference, referencing Disney's headquarters in California.
As of 2021, Disney employed around 75,000 people in central Florida, making it the largest employer in the area. Still, DeSantis has continued to go after the company as a key social battleground ahead of an expected run for White House in 2024.
Last month, the governor floated the idea of building a prison next to Disney World, in addition to a state park or another theme park.
Disney didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
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