DeSantis signs bill ending Disney's special self-governing status

The law also ends Disney's exemption from state regulatory reviews and codes.

Updated: February 27, 2023 - 12:22pm

The Facts Inside Our Reporter’s Notebook

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill ending the Walt Disney Company's special self-governing status.

"Allowing a corporation to control its own government is bad policy, especially when the corporation makes decisions that impact an entire region," DeSantis said in an announcement about the new law, which came largely in response to Disney's advocacy against Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill, called the "Don't say gay bill" by critics. 

The law also ends Disney's exemption from state regulatory reviews and codes and it ensures "that Disney will pay its fair share of taxes," DeSantis' office said.