Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Tuesday that the state is suing two of the nation’s largest textbook publishers, accusing them of inflating prices and costing school districts—and taxpayers—millions of dollars.

The lawsuit, filed in the Second Judicial Circuit Court, names McGraw-Hill LLC and Savvas Learning Company LLC. Uthmeier said the companies violated Florida law and the Florida False Claims Act by systematically charging school districts more than the lowest prices offered elsewhere in the country.

Under state law, publishers must offer Florida districts the best price available nationwide, apply any cost reductions granted to other states, and provide free instructional materials if they are offered for free elsewhere. The complaint alleges both companies ignored those requirements, forcing districts to pay inflated costs for textbooks and other classroom materials.

DeSantis stated that the investigation commenced under the state’s False Claims Act, which enables whistleblowers to report fraud against taxpayers. The state is now seeking triple damages and civil penalties.

“This lawsuit exposes a textbook case of corporate greed,” Uthmeier said. “These companies pocketed the difference and left Florida taxpayers footing the bill. We will hold them accountable and make sure every dime is repaid.”

For example, DeSantis pointed to Osceola County, where Savvas allegedly overcharged the school district by $279,000 for a single textbook. With penalties and treble damages, he said that could cost the company more than $837,000 for one book in one year.

“These publishers exploited our school districts at the expense of students and taxpayers,” DeSantis said. “That ends now.”

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