By Jesse Dieterle*
Governor DeSantis and the Florida legislature have consistently pursued a policy of implementing conservative social legislation in the State of Florida. Recently, the Parental Rights in Education Bill (“HB 1557”) was enacted, causing the Walt Disney Company to publicly oppose the legislation. This public reaction, and expression of speech, led Governor DeSantis and the Florida legislature to act in a manner that arguably violated the United States and Florida Constitutions. Less than a month after Disney publicly criticized HB 1557, Governor DeSantis signed legislation prospectively dissolving the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The special district provided quasi-municipal authority over land owned and managed by Disney. The prospective dissolution of Reedy Creek raises constitutional issues under the First Amendment, Section 4, Article I of the Florida Constitution, and the Contracts Clauses of the United States and Florida Constitutions. This Article discusses the relevant history of Reedy Creek, the heated interactions between Governor DeSantis and Disney, and considers what legal remedies Disney may be able to pursue. This Article advises that Disney file constitutional claims against the State of Florida, and that Governor DeSantis and the Florida legislature seriously consider fully reinstating the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The enactment of SB 4-C, which would have prospectively dissolved the Reedy Creek Improvement District, is a stark example of governmental overreach to control private corporations in Florida and chill the expression of dissent against state policy.