The Florida House of Representatives passed House Bill 9B today. This is the bill that would rename the Reedy Creek Improvement District and also change its board of directors, among other things. The bill will head to the Florida Senate next. The vote was largely along party lines with 82-31 in favor of the bill. Six representatives did not vote.
The HB 9B will head to the Florida Senate next where it will be considered on Friday. During this portion of the process, amendments could be added ahead of the vote in the Senate. If the bill passes there, it will go next to Governor Ron DeSantis who is expected to sign it into law. This comes ahead of the deadline imposed by a previous bill that dissolved the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
The new bill came into being after conflicts between Disney and the Florida Governor last year after Disney came out against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill. This led to the legislation that would dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The new bill would not only change the name of the district to Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. It would also give the Governor the power to appoint the five board members that would run the district.
The original Reedy Creek Improvement District came into being in 1967. This gave the district the power to offer public works, issue bonds, fund projects, handle facilities for the district, and also pay off debt. The new version of the district would be able to do those things as well, with different leadership and some other minor changes.
If the bill does pass, the district will have two years to transfer over its name. This will give it time to change contracts, records, bills, and other paperwork that would have the business name on it. Earlier this week after the bill was introduced Disney commented on it but has not released a comment yet as it continues to move forward.
What do you think about HB 9B moving forward from the Florida House of Representatives to the Florida Senate? What do you think will happen if it passes? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
