The Florida Senate approved a repeal of six special districts in the state Wednesday, including the Reedy Creek special district that gives Disney immense authority to govern itself.
The House is expected to vote to send the bill to the governor Thursday.
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While this bill has been grabbing national headlines, it’s not clear how serious lawmakers are about punishing Disney in this way.
They’ve at least left themselves an escape hatch if repealing Reedy Creek turns out to be too big a lift.
They’ll have more than a year to revisit the issue before anything actually changes.
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“Well, I think Disney has to recognize they’re a guest in the State of Florida,” said State Rep. Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay).
Fine is carrying the bill in the House.
He said Disney shouldn’t be surprised by the legislature seeking retaliation.
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The company halted campaign donations to Florida Republicans and publicly denounced the state’s new law limiting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools.
It prohibits instruction on the topics in grades K-3 and requires instruction to be age-appropriate thereafter.
“When you take advantage of special privileges that you’re given to attack the views of the overwhelming majority of Floridians I think you should expect there to be issues,” said Fine.
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Fine’s bill would dissolve the Reedy Creek special district, which essentially allows Disney to govern itself.
It’s a power Fine says extends further than many may realize.
“Disney has the right to create a nuclear power plant if they want without anyone else’s permission. They’re not subject to FDOT rules. They get to do their own zoning. They can change the borders of their own government without anyone else’s permission,” said Fine.
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The bill doesn’t take effect until next year.
Sponsors have said that’s to give the legislature time to examine what a dissolution of Reedy Creek would really involve.
“We could also do that without this bill,” said State Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) on the Senate floor Tuesday.
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Brandes questioned Senate sponsor Jennifer Bradley (R-Orange Park) as to why lawmakers want to move ahead without knowing the full consequences.
“A deadline will encourage discussion,” said Bradley.
With the legislature essentially kicking the can down the road a year, State Representative Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) said she believes the bill may be aimed at drumming up headlines, rather than true retribution against Florida’s largest employer.
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“It’s smoke and mirrors but it also is trying to essentially weaponize government as a tool of punishment towards those who just express their constitutional rights,” said Eskamani.
Whether Reedy Creek stays or goes could come down to whether Disney submits to Republican lawmakers’ wishes.
“I think if you’re gonna ask for special treatment and special consideration, I certainly know with my children I expect pretty good behavior,” said Fine.
The bill would also dissolve five other special districts formed before the ratification of Florida’s 1968 constitution, including the Bradford County Development Authority here in North Florida.
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