Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed into law Friday a bill that strips Walt Disney Co. from being able to govern the land where the Disney World theme park is located and a bill that effectively blocks Critical Race Theory from being pushed in classrooms.
In reference to the bill ending Disney’s special tax privileges in the state, DeSantis said, “I’m just not comfortable having that type of agenda get special treatment in my state.”
The bill eliminates the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which exempts Disney from numerous regulations and taxes and fees and reportedly saves the company tens of millions of dollars per year.
Disney’s ability to govern the area was created when the Reedy Creek Improvement Act was signed into law in May 1967. The local government did not have the resources needed to help bring Disney’s 25,000 acre plan to fruition so the Reedy Creek Improvement District was established to give Disney the same authority as a county-level government.
DeSantis commented on the Stop W.O.K.E. Act, saying, “We are not going to teach our kids to hate this country or to hate each other.”
“The law, which will go into effect on July 1, prohibits Florida’s public schools and private businesses from making people feel uncomfortable or guilty over their race, sex, or national origin,” WFTS reported. The bill states teachers would be able to talk about topics like sexism, racism, slavery, and racial segregation but they can’t persuade students to a particular point of view.”