Walt Disney World is no longer a special district thanks to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

As reported by Deadline, following The Walt Disney Company's public denouncement of Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act, DeSantis signed legislation that effectively repealed Walt Disney World Resort's status as a special district, known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District. It is unclear how this will impact the company financially.

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According to DeSantis in a statement, Walt Disney Co. has an "intentional agenda" to "inject sexuality into the programming that is provided to our youngest kids." He said, "I'm just not comfortable having that type of agenda get special treatment in my state. I just can’t do it. We have everything thought out. Don't let anyone tell you that Disney is going to get a tax cut out of this. They are going to pay more taxes as a result of this."

Florida lawmakers voted 23-16 on April 20 to end Walt Disney World Resorts' status as a special district, which it has held for 55 years, allowing the park special privileges, including the ability to essentially self-govern, in the area of Central Florida where it resides. While it is unclear the financial impact this decision will have on the company, Florida Democrats have warned that repealing Disney World's special district status could force the surrounding Orange or Osceola counties to pay Reedy Creek Improvement District's existing debts. As Walt Disney World draws a sizeable chunk of Florida's income, there is concern that the new legislation could cause the company to pull out of the state entirely. The bill will go into effect on June 1, 2023.

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Walt Disney Co. faced significant backlash over its initial lack of response to the legislation, as well as its donations to the politicians behind the Parental Rights in Education bill, nicknamed the "Don't Say Gay" bill," which would effectively ban "classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels." The bill was passed by the Florida House of Representatives and the Senate and signed by DeSantis.

On March 9, following a meeting with shareholders, Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Chapek announced that Disney would pledge $5 million to the HRC and other LGBTQ+ charities. However, the HRC denied this donation until "meaningful action" was taken from the entertainment company. Chapek announced on March 24 that the company would pause all political donations in the state of Florida and that Disney would be "increasing our support for advocacy groups to combat similar legislation in other states."

Recently, Walt Disney Co. promised to help fight and subsequently repeal the "Don't Say Gay" law. "Florida's HB 1557, also known as the 'Don't Say Gay' bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law," a Disney spokesperson said in a statement. "Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that. We are dedicated to standing up for the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ members of the Disney family, as well as the LGBTQ+ community in Florida and across the country."

Source: Deadline