Releases

Bill to Solidify Use of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles Becomes Law

July 19, 2021
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) announced that the Governor has signed her Senate Bill 214 to permanently grant the County of Orange the authority to establish a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) transportation plan in Rancho Mission Viejo. “The signing of SB 214 will further encourage...

Assembly Approves Bill to Name Highway after Firefighting Legend Bill Clayton

July 8, 2021
The California State Assembly today unanimously approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 by Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) to designate a portion of Interstate 5 in Carlsbad as the “CAL FIRE Chief William R. Clayton Memorial Highway.” With the Senate previously approving SCR 12, it will...

Statement on Budget Vote: Spending Spree Today, Hard Decisions Tomorrow

June 28, 2021
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement after the Senate tonight approved a “nearly final” budget agreement between Governor Newsom and legislative Democrats: “The Governor and legislative Democrats have wasted a golden opportunity to ensure California can pay for...

Senator Patricia Bates Champions Gas Tax Relief for Californians

June 24, 2021
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) has co-signed a letter to Governor Newsom and legislative leaders requesting they enact a “Gas Tax Holiday,” which would provide tax relief to Californians as gas prices continue to rise. A holiday would be a full moratorium on California’s gas excise tax...

Senator Patricia Bates Honors Family Assistance Ministries as Nonprofit of the Year

June 24, 2021
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) has chosen Orange County’s Family Assistance Ministries as the 2021 Nonprofit of the Year for the 36th Senate District. This recognition was part of a larger virtual celebration of CalNonprofits ’ “California Nonprofits Day” held yesterday. “Family...

Statement on Budget Vote: California Can Do Better

June 14, 2021
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement after the Senate today approved a 2021-22 budget proposal agreed to by Assembly and Senate Democrats: “Everyone knows the real purpose of today’s vote – it is to ensure the Legislature continues to get paid after June 15. Only...

Senate Approves “Brandon’s Law” to Ban Deceptive Marketing in Rehab Industry

May 17, 2021
The California State Senate today unanimously approved “Brandon’s Law” ( Senate Bill 434 ) by Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) to prohibit an operator of rehabilitation treatment facilities from providing any form of false advertising or marketing services. SB 434 will head next to the...

Statement on Governor’s Revised Budget Plan

May 14, 2021
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement after Governor Gavin Newsom released his revised 2021-22 budget proposal : “I support investments to help the state address threats such as drought, wildfires, and massive unfunded liabilities. It is also encouraging that the...

Statement on Senate Confirmation of CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray

May 10, 2021
The California State Senate today voted to confirm Amanda Ray as the 16th Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the first woman and second African American to lead the department of more than 11,000 members. Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), the vice chair of the Senate Rules...

Committee Holds Bill to Delay Prop. 19, But Pledges to Work on a Solution

May 7, 2021
The Senate Governance and Finance Committee did not take action on Senate Bill 668 by Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) yesterday that would delay the implementation date of a provision of Proposition 19 (2020) to February 16, 2023. The committee’s chair, Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg...

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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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