ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A State House committee passed changes to Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
The bill passed Wednesday by a House committee and gives Gov. Ron DeSantis authority to appoint a five-member Board of Supervisors that would direct the district.
The bill is now heading to the House floor, but it didn’t get there without some stalling. It was met with a lot of questions about what exactly is going to change and who is going to be in charge.
READ: Disney eliminating 7,000 jobs in cost-cutting measure
The bill changes the name of the district to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. It also gives DeSantis authority to appoint a five-member Board of Supervisors that would direct the district.
Republican Rep. Fred Hawkins presented the bill.
Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani said she was mostly concerned that control would be transferred to the governor.
READ: Attorney: Disney has strong case if it goes to court over Reedy Creek
Democrats have tried to amend the bill repeatedly, to add guarantees that the governor wouldn’t just appoint his friends and that the board represented the community.
The bill could be on the governor’s desk by next week.
READ: Gov. DeSantis details plan for expanded sales tax exemptions in Florida
This browser does not support the video element.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.