“With California supposedly enjoying a budget ‘surplus,’ it makes no sense to penalize small businesses for accepting federal assistance — especially since the feds have made such assistance fully tax deductible,” Bates said.

California Sen. Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) talks to Patch about her top priorities for Oceanside and the 36th District.

Earlier this year State Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) reintroduced legislation to extend the presumption of openness that exists in California courtrooms to proceedings under the Sexually Violent Predator Act.

Sen. Patricia Bates honored O'side Kitchen Collaborative Executive Director Vallie Gilley as 36th Senate District Woman of the Year.

Working across the aisle, Petrie-Norris and Sen. Pat Bates, R-Laguna Niguel, have introduced complementary bills that would bump fentanyl up from its spot as a less-threatening Schedule II drug to what they say is its rightful place as a dangerous Schedule I drug.