News 6 will livestream news conference

FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a news conference on Jan. 26, 2023, in Miami. David McIntosh, the president ofthe influential Club For Growth group, said Tuesday, Feb. 7, that the group has invited a half dozen potential Republican candidates for the White House to its donor summit in Florida next month including DeSantis. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, File) (Marta Lavandier, Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference Monday in Lake Buena Vista.

The governor will speak at 9:45 a.m. at Reedy Creek Fire Station No. 4.

This visit comes after a Florida special session last month approved a bill that would give DeSantis the authority to appoint the district’s five-member Board of Supervisors and change the name to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

The revamped district would be continued under a new name on June 1 and still have wide-ranging authority to levy property taxes, oversee water and sewer systems, roads, parking, a fire department and other infrastructure and issue bonds to pay for projects.

The legislation awaits the governor’s signature.

The Disney district takeover was initiated last year when Disney publicly opposed “Don’t Say Gay,” which bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade and lessons deemed not age-appropriate.

DeSantis moved to penalize the company, directing lawmakers to dissolve the district during a special legislative session in April, beginning a closely watched restructuring process.

Having a separate government allows the Disney government to issue bonds and provide zoning, fire protection, utilities and infrastructure services on its land. Republican critics of the district argue it gives Disney a commercial advantage unavailable to others.

News 6 will livestream the news conference at the top of this story.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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About the Author:

Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. She graduated from UCF and returned to Central Florida after working in Colorado.