Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs bill to void Disney development deals

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed legislation that effectively voids the development agreements Disney struck shortly before the governor chose a new board of supervisors to oversee the company’s Orlando parks.

The development deals are at the center of the latest battle in a yearlong war between Disney, one of Florida’s largest employers, and DeSantis, a Republican who is likely gearing up for a 2024 presidential campaign.

The governor’s office confirmed the bill signing in a press release that contained no other information or remarks on the legislation.

The bill, which passed out of the state’s Republican-majority Legislature just a day earlier, follows a vote by DeSantis’ board members to invalidate the deals, claiming they were struck unlawfully. Disney says the contracts were crafted to help lock in its long-term development plans amid escalating tension with DeSantis and his allies.

Members of both parties, including Trump, have criticized DeSantis’ fight with Disney.

“This feud between DeSantis and Disney is insane,” Linda Stewart, a Democrat who represents Florida’s 13th Senate district, told CNBC. “Every day it seems like there’s another way that they want to try to make things more difficult for Disney, but all they’re doing is costing taxpayers money to hire lawyers to go defend what they are doing.”

Stewart voted against the recent legislation.

Disney sued DeSantis and the board members last week, alleging a campaign of political retaliation led by the governor. The board countersued days later.

Disney declined to comment.

The feud began more than a year ago, after Disney denounced a Republican-backed Florida bill limiting classroom discussion about sexual orientation and gender ideology, branded “Don’t Say Gay” by critics.

Shortly after, DeSantis and his allies…