More for the Courts: DeSantis Signs Bill to Void Disney Contracts

The Disney vs. DeSantis battle has gone on for over a year now. The bitter feud brewing between the Walt Disney Company and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis began as a disagreement over the “Don’t Say Gay” controversy and has spiraled into a dramatic conflict with many twists and turns. As the situation unfolded, both sides have experienced their fair share of victories and defeats, with each side regaining the upper hand every time the fight appeared to be over. Each side would come back with renewed vigor, reigniting the conflict all over again.

Related: Disney vs. DeSantis: Did Governor DeSantis Send the National Guard to Block Entrances to Disney World?

Most recently, both sides filed suits against the other party—Disney claimed DeSantis and the board were punishing the company for exercising its right to free speech, and DeSantis’s special, hand-picked board wanted to protect the voiding of the agreement it signed with Disney which effectively rendered it useless.

After these developments, we also discovered that the Florida House had passed a Land Use bill that includes an amendment that allows the new board (which replaced the old Reedy Creek Improvement District board) the “authority to overturn contracts approved by the previous board.”

Read More: “Such a Weird Hill to Die On”: Florida House Passes Bill, Continues to Come for Disney Contracts

Now, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, it has recently been reported that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill “nullifying agreements Walt Disney Co. struck that allowed the company to retain some control over future development in the district covering its Orlando-area theme parks.”

The dispute centers on development approvals Disney struck in February with a previous board, which it had effectively controlled, just before the current one was due to take over in March. Those agreements locked in zoning, infrastructure and air-rights approvals that Disney might need if it chooses to expand its Walt Disney World Resort.

Related: DeSantis Threatens State Prison Next to Walt Disney World as Revenge

As of the publishing of this article, Disney has not made any official comment on the matter, but it certainly provides more ammunition for the courts and the lawsuits that have been filed.