Happening today: Florida House to decide whether to strip Disney of special district status

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida House will decide whether to move forward with stripping Disney of its special district status.

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The state Senate passed the issue on Wednesday.

If the House sides with the governor, the question becomes: How will Disney respond?

READ: Disney’s debt is about to be Central Florida taxpayers’ problem

Disney could sue or it could negotiate.

It’s unclear what the company will do.

If Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District is dissolved, some lawmakers argue that billions of dollars of debt would be piled on taxpayers.

“There’s been no thought, no analysis, no economic impact discussion to how this will affect Lake Buena Vista, Osceola County, Orange County, as well as the other special districts,” a Senate lawmaker said.

READ: Court battle? Negotiation? What’s next for Reedy Creek

Attorney Chris Lyon predicts Disney will take a quieter approach, using its vast network of lobbyists and influence to come to a new arrangement with the state to preserve Reedy Creek while giving up some things it no longer needs.

READ: What would dissolving Disney’s Reedy Creek mean for local taxpayers?

The Republican-led House is expected to give its final approval to the measure on Thursday.

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