the bill less than two weeks later and announced donations to pro-LGBTQ rights organizations. After the bill was signed, Disney vowed to help repeal the law.
DeSantis and his allies soon after targeted Disney's special tax district, an arrangement that since the 1960s has allowed the company to effectively self-govern its Orlando-area parks. In April 2022, DeSantis signed a bill toThe move set off fears that the neighboring counties would be on the hook for the district's expenses and debts.
The next month, the governor's board members accused Disney of sneaking through 11th-hour development deals to thwart their power over the district. Disney says it followed the correct process in crafting those deals, and that it sought them in order to protect its investments in Florida amid the politically uncertain landscape.
The board voted to nullify those development contracts. Iger, who returned as Disney's CEO in November, noted in a recentDisney sued Florida, accusing DeSantis of orchestrating a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" that now threatens the company's business. The law was "designed to target Disney and Disney alone," the company said in its federal civil suit. The board has countersued in state court.
The fight shows no signs of stopping, and returns to the spotlight with each new business update from Disney, such as the company's recent announcementThe ESG and Disney fights "reflect ways for DeSantis to appeal to that populist base while at the same time keeping the general thrust of Florida policy very business friendly," Primo, the political science professor, told CNBC.