Every year since he took office, Republican Rep. Tom Fabricio has filed legislation to deliver relief to homeowners whose properties have been damaged by blast mining at nearby limestone quarries.
The Legislature has largely[1] ignored[2] his effort. But he’s not stopping.
This week, Fabricio refiled legislation (HB 115[3]) to establish a path to compensation to residents whose homes sit within 3 miles of mining operations.
If passed, the measure would guarantee eligible homeowners the ability to seek payment through a complaint filed with the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH[4]). It would also ensure that this state-level proceeding preempts local claims processes.
The issue is close to home for Fabricio — literally. A Miami Lakes resident by way of Miramar, he has long lived in the area between northwest Miami-Dade and southwest Broward that has dealt for years with the effects of repeat quarry explosions.
Residents and experts weighed in on the matter during a House presentation[5] last year that featured photos of cracked foundations, walls, pools and roofs of South Florida properties.
Industry professionals described the damage as cosmetic and not a safety issue. Homeowners and members of a Miami-Dade advisory board tasked with analyzing the problem disputed that assertion, arguing any damage is unacceptable.
“For years, families in our communities have endured the consequences of quarry blasting, including shaking homes and causing costly damage,” he said in a statement, urging residents to share their stories to build momentum.
“This bill is about fairness, ensuring that those living closest to these operations are supported while allowing an essential industry to operate responsibly.”
HB 115, filed Tuesday, follows a frustrating Spring in which companion measures filed by Fabricio and Hialeah Gardens Republican Sen. Bryan Ávila both died without hearings[6]. Legislation they carried in 2024 that would have capped the force of blast mining to less destructive levels also went unheard.
Fabricio’s new bill also comes less than four months after the Miami Lakes Town Council voted unanimously to file a lawsuit against Florida[7] challenging the constitutionality of a state law that today forces blast mining damage claims to go through DOAH rather than be heard in a courtroom.
Council member Steven Herzberg said in June that the existing restriction “strips an entire class of claims from the court.” Mayor Bryan Morera noted that the town had “tried every possible alternative” before taking legal action, but that the state, Legislature and former CFO Jimmy Patronis — who also served as Florida State Fire Marshal — either ignored the issue or sided with miners.
That isn’t to say lawmakers have done nothing. In 2019, the Legislature directed Patronis to set vibration limits and require seismographs at mines through a measure championed by then-Sen. Manny Díaz Jr. and Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, both Miami-Dade Republicans.
A year later, Ávila, Díaz and Miami Gardens Democratic Sen. Shevrin Jones led the passage of another law that gave the Fire Marshal exclusive authority to regulate construction mining standards and launched the Miami-Dade Mining Pilot Program with a state-hired seismologist to monitor blasts.
Industry leaders said last year that those limits have worked, with quarry representatives testifying that while permitted blasting can still lead to hairline cracks in drywall, there’s no structural harm at current thresholds. Residents countered with photos of fissures in concrete slabs, tiles and ceilings, arguing such “cosmetic” harms still cost thousands to repair and that repeated shaking worsens the damage over time.
Florida consumes more than 130 million tons of limestone annually, according to Ananth Prasad of the Florida Transportation Builders Association, and more than a third comes from Miami-Dade. Six mining companies operating at eight northwest Miami-Dade quarries detonate tons of explosives weekly to dislodge aggregate, according to Fabricio’s Office.
White Rock Quarries[8], Miami-Dade’s largest operator, has donated heavily to state candidates over the years, including Ávila. Nearly half of Florida’s 40 Senators and a fifth of its Representatives have accepted contributions from the company.
Fabricio has long maintained that his goal is a workable compromise that keeps limestone rock, a primary ingredient[9] in concrete and asphalt, moving to construction sites while giving nearby homeowners a fair route to relief.
“Our view is pretty simple,” he said earlier this year. “The statewide limits are generally fine. But when homes 1,000 yards away are shaking every day, that’s a problem.”
HB 115 reflects that perspective. It wouldn’t halt mining. Instead, it would simply codify how claims are evaluated and paid, focusing on the area closest to the blasts, where complaints are most concentrated.
“This is about protecting our families and preserving the communities we love,” he said. “Together, we can find a solution that works for everyone.”
HB 115 awaits a Senate companion and committee assignments. If passed as-is, it would go into effect upon becoming law.
The 2026 Legislative Session begins Jan. 13.
References
- ^ largely (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ ignored (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ HB 115 (www.flhouse.gov)
- ^ DOAH (www.flgov.com)
- ^ House presentation (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ died without hearings (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ file a lawsuit against Florida (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ White Rock Quarries (www.wrquarries.com)
- ^ primary ingredient (www.sciencedirect.com)