Releases

Sheriff Don Barnes Bestows OC Sheriff’s Award to Sen. Bates

October 21, 2021
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) received the Orange County Sheriff’s Award from Sheriff Don Barnes yesterday at a surprise informal ceremony during a Division Commanders’ briefing with high-level command staff in Santa Ana. The Sheriff gives the award to individuals who have made a...

Oil Spill Update #3: More Progress; Action on Cargo Ships

October 15, 2021
Dear Neighbor, There is more significant progress to report regarding the oil spill that originated off the coast of Orange County. Scroll down to learn more. A U.S. Coast Guard officer works alongside contractors to remove tar balls from shores in Oceanside Harbor Beach, Oct. 12, 2021. Photo...

Sen. Bates’ Statement on Orange County Oil Spill

October 4, 2021
“The oil spill off the coast of Orange County is devastating and my office is in contact with appropriate agencies to ensure that our region has the resources it needs to respond. “The state has closed fishing from Warner Ave. in Huntington Beach to Crown Valley Parkway in Dana Point and extending...

“Brandon’s Law” Now Law: Effort to Ban Deceptive Marketing in Rehab Industry Clears Last Hurdle

October 1, 2021
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) announced today that the Governor has approved legislation she authored called “Brandon’s Law” ( Senate Bill 434 ). This law will take effect on January 1, 2022, and prohibits an operator of rehabilitation treatment facilities from providing any form of...

Governor Approves Sen. Bates’ Bill to Strengthen Law Regarding Sexually Violent Predators

September 29, 2021
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) announced today that the Governor has signed her Senate Bill 248 into law. Written in partnership with San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan, SB 248 removes a perverse incentive for sexually violent predators (SVPs) to commit felonies while civilly...

Sen. Patricia Bates Applauds State Grant to Restore Ocean Knoll Canyon

September 27, 2021
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) thanked the California State Coastal Conservancy for approving a $200,000 grant to the San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG) to enhance and restore approximately 4.6 acres of riparian upland habitat at Ocean Knoll Canyon in Encinitas. “I thank the Conservancy for...

Sen. Patricia Bates Applauds Fire Prevention Grants for San Diego and Orange Counties

September 22, 2021
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) thanked the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CAL FIRE) for funding local fire prevention projects that will help protect communities across California. “California must do everything it can to reduce the risk of wildfires and I am...

Sen. Patricia Bates Appointed to California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission

September 22, 2021
The Senate Rules Committee led by Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) has appointed Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) to serve as a member of the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission (CDIAC). She will serve on the commission until January 1, 2023. “It is an honor...

Senator Patricia Bates Announces Housing Funding for South Orange County

September 14, 2021
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) thanked the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for providing funding to the cities of Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita to help keep vulnerable families housed. “Ensuring local governments in my district receive their...

Statement on CalChamber’s Appointment of Jennifer Barrera as Next President and CEO

September 3, 2021
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), a former small business owner, issued the following statement after the California Chamber of Commerce announced today the appointment of Jennifer Barrera as the organization’s next President and CEO: “I am pleased that CalChamber has selected an...

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Sen. Patricia Bates and OC Sheriff Don Barnes Renew Effort to Establish Fentanyl Task Force

December 21, 2020
With street fentanyl surging in the western U.S. and causing thousands of deaths , Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) has reintroduced legislation to create a task force to improve Southern California’s response. Authored in partnership with Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, Senate Bill 75...

Senators Urge Governor to Reclassify California's Restaurants as Essential Businesses

December 14, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) sent a letter signed by senators of both parties to Governor Gavin Newsom last Friday evening asking him to “reclassify restaurants as essential businesses, and adopt the industry’s protocols that would allow restaurants to operate safely.” The text of the...

Senator Patricia Bates Co-Authors "Keep California Working Act" to Save Jobs and Small Businesses

December 11, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) announced that she has co-authored the bipartisan “Keep California Working Act” that would provide $2.6 billion to help small businesses affected by COVID-19. “As we await the distribution of a vaccine and more aid from the federal government, the...

Senator Patricia Bates Co-Authors Bill to Protect EDD Applicants from Identity Theft

December 10, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) announced that she has co-authored bipartisan legislation this week to protect Californians applying for unemployment benefits from identity theft. Senate Bill 58 would require the Employment Development Department (EDD) to end immediately the practice of...

Senator Patricia Bates Announces Housing Planning Grants for Dana Point and Mission Viejo

December 8, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) announced that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has awarded Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) grants to the cities of Dana Point ($150,000) and Mission Viejo ($300,000) to help create more housing supply. “My thanks go to...

In Case You Missed It: Strong Winds Could Lead to Power Shutoffs for Some

December 3, 2020
Dear Neighbor, The National Weather Service has issued a “Red Flag Warning” and “High Wind Watch” for parts of Orange and San Diego counties from Wednesday, December 2, at 6 p.m. through Saturday, December 5, at 10 p.m. Due to weather conditions, power providers may need to shut off power (a Public...

Senator Patricia Bates Announces Housing Planning Grant for Laguna Niguel

November 24, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) has announced that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has awarded a $300,000 Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) grant to the City of Laguna Niguel to help create more housing supply. “I thank the Department of Housing and...

Senator Patricia Bates Announces Housing Planning Grants for Encinitas and Oceanside

November 12, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) has announced that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has awarded Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) grants to the cities of Encinitas ($300,000) and Oceanside ($500,000) to help create more housing supply. “I thank the...

Senator Patricia Bates Announces $4 Million in New Housing Funding for Orange and San Diego Counties

November 9, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) has announced that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has awarded more than $4 million to local governments in Orange and San Diego Counties to fund housing-related projects. “I am pleased that the Department of Housing and...

Senator Patricia Bates Earns High CalChamber Score for Efforts to Protect Jobs

October 26, 2020
The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) has awarded Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) a high score in its 2020 Vote Record on issues important to the state’s job creators. “I am pleased to be recognized by CalChamber yet again for my work to protect economic growth and opportunity in...

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Senator Patricia Bates Responds to Report of Inaccurate Party Registrations of California Voters

December 12, 2019
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement today after the Sacramento Bee reported that “ At least 600 Californians, including lifelong Republicans and Democrats, have had their voter registration unexpectedly changed, and several county elections officials are pinning...

Sen. Patricia Bates Urges College Seniors to Apply for Senate Fellowships

December 3, 2019
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) is encouraging college seniors and graduates to consider applying for the 2020-21 California Senate Fellows program. Former fellows include current members of Congress and the California Legislature, judges, and local elected officials. “If you have a desire...

Senators Patricia Bates and John Moorlach Seek Federal Help to Improve Oversight of Addiction Treatment Industry

November 25, 2019
SACRAMENTO – Senators Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) and John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) have sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson asking for their assistance to improve oversight of the addiction treatment industry. Their...

Sen. Patricia Bates Earns Top Mark for Defending Taxpayers from Higher Taxes

November 19, 2019
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) today announced that she has received a perfect 100 percent score (“A” grade) from the nonpartisan Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) in its 2019 Legislative Report Card . HJTA is one of the state’s top watchdogs on tax and public finance issues. “I...

Senator Patricia Bates Announces More Funding to Address Homelessness

November 18, 2019
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) has announced that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has awarded more than $1 million in Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) to Orange and San Diego counties to reduce homelessness. These grants are in addition to the $2.5...

Sen. Patricia Bates Announces State Funding to Help Carlsbad Create More Housing

November 18, 2019
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) has announced that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has awarded $310,000 to the City of Carlsbad to help create more housing supply. “I am pleased that the California Department of Housing and Community Development has...

Senator Patricia Bates Earns Perfect CalChamber Score for Efforts to Protect Jobs and Opportunity

November 4, 2019
The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) has awarded Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) a perfect score (18-0) in its 2019 Vote Record . She is one of only nine state senators to have received a perfect score. “CalChamber’s vote record provides Californians a measuring stick to judge...

ALERT: Strong Winds Could Lead to Power Shutoffs for Some

October 30, 2019
Projected strong winds this week increase the risk for more wildfires. Electrical utilities plan on implementing “public safety power shutoffs” to some communities deemed to be at risk. Here are additional web links and phone numbers you may find useful for your area...

Sen. Patricia Bates Advocates for Reforms in Addiction Treatment Industry during Oversight Hearing

October 30, 2019
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), a former social worker who served in communities affected by drug abuse and who has authored and co-authored several bills to end abuses in the addiction treatment industry over the past five years, participated in a bipartisan oversight hearing in Costa...

Senator Patricia Bates Announces Additional State Funding to Address Homelessness

October 16, 2019
To help address homelessness, Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) has announced that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has awarded $2.5 million to Orange and San Diego counties to fund various programs. “Homelessness is a growing problem in many communities...

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Senator Bates Introduces Legislation to Fix Motor Voter Law

December 17, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) introduced Senate Bill 57, which would allow individuals to opt-in for voter registration instead of automatically being registered to vote or having to opt-out of the program. By returning the process to an opt-in, the transfer of...

Another Top Legislative Grade for Senator Bates from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

December 12, 2018
SACRAMENTO - Senator Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) has once again earned the title of "Taxpayer's Ally" from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA). Out of 40 California State Senators, Senator Bates is one out of only nine who has earned an "A" grade on the HJTA Legislative Report...

Senator Patricia Bates Begins Second Term, Reaffirms Commitment to Champion Taxpayers

December 3, 2018
Senator Patricia Bates (third from left) and other re-elected and newly elected senators take the oath of office administered by the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, Tani Cantil-Sakauye. Click here to view video of the oath. For high resolution photos of the ceremony, please contact...

Senator Bates' Statement on Passing of Former President George H.W. Bush

December 1, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) released the following statement on the passing of former President George H.W. Bush: “My thoughts and prayers are with the Bush family as they mourn the loss of President George H.W. Bush, whose extraordinary life inspired many in his family to...

Statement by Senator Patricia Bates on Passing of Aubry Stone

November 28, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement today on the passing of Aubry Stone, the President and CEO of the California Black Chamber of Commerce: “I am saddened to learn of the passing of Aubry Stone, whose work as President and CEO of the California Black...

Senator Bates Earns Perfect Score from the California District Attorneys Association for 2018 Legislative Session

November 26, 2018
SACRAMENTO – The California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) released its 2018 Legislative Scorecard and awarded Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) a “100% score” for her voting record on legislation affecting public safety. With 40 state senators in the California State Legislature,...

$15 Billion Surplus Projected for California's 2019-20 Budget

November 15, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Today, the non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) released its fiscal forecast for the 2019-20 budget year which predicts that California will have a significant surplus of $15 billion by June 30, 2020. Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) and Vice Chair...

Senator Bates Earns "2018 Champion of Manufacturing" Honor

October 31, 2018
SACRAMENTO – For the second year in a row, Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) has earned the title of being a “Champion of Manufacturing” from the California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) in its 2018 Manufacturing Vote Record. Senator Bates earned this honor for her work...

Senator Bates Partners with Mattress Recycling Council to Protect the Environment

October 29, 2018
Photo courtesy of Mattress Recycling Council: Workers loaded a discarded mattress on to a truck where parts of the mattress are recycled. Click here for high resolution photo . SACRAMENTO – As part of her efforts to protect the environment and to help residents properly dispose of their old...

Senator Bates Encourages Residents to Properly Dispose Unneeded Medications

October 26, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) encourages residents to properly discard their unneeded prescription medications by participating in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day , which takes place this Saturday, October 27th. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) sponsors...

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