After Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that was aimed to invalidate contentious development agreements involving the entertainment behemoth, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts on Monday updated a federal lawsuit that it had previously filed against the governor.
After the completion of the regular legislative session on Friday, Governor DeSantis took the time to sign Senate Bill 1604.
The law establishes a procedure for the nullification of agreements that Disney and the previous board of the Reedy Creek Improvement District negotiated just before to the seating of a new board that was appointed by DeSantis.
The federal complaint was launched by Disney last month, saying that retaliation coordinated by DeSantis has caused economic injury to the firm and violated the constitutional rights of Disney in the process.
Disney’s opposition to a contentious law that restricts training in schools regarding sexual orientation and gender identity led to the beginning of tensions between DeSantis and the firm last year.
The law, which proponents labeled “Parental Rights in Education” but critics referred to as “don’t say gay,” restricts instruction concerning sexual orientation and gender identity.
The updated complaint that was filed by Disney on Monday included quotations from an interview with Newsmax as well as a news conference that was held on Friday.
“Since our skirmish last year, Disney has not been involved in any of those issues,” According to Newsmax, DeSantis said.“They have not made a peep. That, ultimately, is the most important, that Disney is not allowed to pervert the system to the detriment of Floridians.”
The former Reedy Creek district was established in the 1960s, and it was at that time that Disney was granted the ability to exercise self-governance.
In February, lawmakers conferred upon DeSantis the authority to nominate board members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which had previously been known as the Central Florida Tourism Development Council.
The agreements that were struck by the previous board are targeted by the legislation that was passed on Friday and signed into law.
It states that special districts would be prevented from complying with development agreements that were negotiated three months or fewer before new laws take effect that affects the way district board members are appointed.
In addition, the measure would provide new boards a period of time equal to four months during which they might evaluate any existing development agreements and determine whether or not they should be re-adopted.
In addition, the board of directors for the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has initiated legal action on the state level to challenge the validity of the development agreements.