At a press conference on Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a bill to revoke the agreement Disney made with the former board of the Reedy Creek Improvement District that attempted to undercut the state’s takeover of the special district, the Washington Examiner reported.
The governor explained that the state-run board should be able to use one of the many “legal infirmities” already in the agreement to “render them void” when the new board meets on April 19.
But even if the new board doesn’t act, the state legislature has the authority through Florida statute to “revoke the development agreements,” DeSantis added.
The governor said after working with state Senate and House leaders, a bill is being presented to ensure that the agreements are revoked “and the people’s will is established” and “upheld.”
According to DeSantis, the state found various parts of the agreement that were handled improperly, which would invalidate the agreement. He expressed confidence that the actions taken by the state-run board will be enough and said that the bill will act only as a backstop.
DeSantis also suggested subjecting DisneyWorld’s monorail system and attractions to the same state inspections as other amusement parks in the state.
He told reporters that the Disney monorail was exempted from safety inspections and standards and said the state would “make sure that the monorail is subject to oversight.”
Additionally, Governor DeSantis said the state would analyze the land owned by the Reedy Creek Improvement District to determine how best to use it.
He said some people have suggested creating a state park or more amusement parks, jokingly adding that someone even suggested using some of the land to build a new state prison.
Republican state Senator Blaise Ingolgia offered a “couple of words” to Disney, warning the company that it will not “win this fight. This governor will.”
