On Wednesday, the Walt Disney Company filed a lawsuit in federal court against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, alleging the governor improperly sought to punish the company for its opposition to his controversial "Don't Say Gay" education legislation. Disney claims that the governor unlawfully revoked the company's special tax status, effectively threatening its economic future in the region and violating its constitutional rights.

Earlier the same day, the Florida Senate voted 27-13 to approve a bill that would void development agreements involving Disney, passed hours after the company's lawsuit was filed. The proposed legislation, which now heads to the House, will override agreements that Disney reached with outgoing board members of the former Reedy Creek Improvement District. The company effectively controlled the District, which gave them unprecedented powers over issues such as land use, fire protection, and sewer services that are typically handled by local governments.

The lawsuit alleges that DeSantis and other state officials improperly sought to retaliate against Disney in violation of the First Amendment. While these cases are notoriously difficult to prove, legal experts suggest that Disney may have a strong case, partly due to DeSantis' explicit statements regarding punishing the company for its political views.