Disney has sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over the control of its Florida resort in response to what it calls "a targeted campaign of government retaliation."
The company claims that the governor is punishing the company for merely exercising its right to free speech.
Disney sued DeSantis and the state's chief financial officer after the state's Board of Administration voted to terminate a long-standing agreement between Disney and the state.
- The agreement, known as a "special district," allowed Disney to collect taxes from visitors to its theme parks and use the funds for infrastructure improvements on its property. In return, Disney would keep the property taxes it would have paid to the state.
- The state's Board of Administration voted to terminate the agreement due to concerns about how much money Disney was collecting and whether it was being used appropriately.
- Disney argues that the termination of the agreement violates the company's constitutional rights and that the Board of Administration acted unlawfully.
The lawsuit is the latest development in a year-long dispute between Disney and the state of Florida.
- The disagreement between the two sides began last year when Disney came out against a Florida bill limiting classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity, dubbed "Don't Say Gay."
