The Florida Senate voted 26 to 9 Friday to give control of the special district that governs Walt Disney World's property to a board appointed by the governor.
Thespecial session bill now goes to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature.
DeSantis targeted Disney's self-governing Reedy Creek Improvement District after the company spoke out on an LGBTQ issue. It opposed a Republican bill banning instruction in early grades about gay and transgender people.
Democratic Sen. Linda Stewart of Orlando says it looks like retaliation and "a mechanism for the governor to take oversight of a private business."
House Speaker Paul Renner said it was mainly about Disney having its own government. The 25,000-acre special district with taxing authority, approved by the Legislature in 1967, was controlled by its property owners -- and Walt Disney World owns the land.
"They're not in charge of themselves anymore," Renner said. "As the sheriff -- as the governor said there's a new sheriff in town, and the people's elected representative, the governor, is making those appointments."
GOP Sen. Travis Hutson of St. Johns County introduced the bill. After the vote, he had this to say: "In about 15 minutes, my wife is taking my kids out of school. We've had this on the books for a couple of months. I know it's ironic, but I am going to Disney World. And I'm just hoping I'm still allowed in."
Hutson said the board appointed by the governor won't be a hostile takeover of the private sector but a government working hand in hand with Disney.
