Releases

Statement on Governor's Revised Budget Plan

May 14, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement after Governor Gavin Newsom released his revised 2020-21 budget proposal : “The Governor’s revised budget plan is right to focus on these most essential priorities – public health, public safety, public education, and...

Statement on Rejection of AB 5 Relief Bills

May 14, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the statement below after the Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee today rejected SB 806 (Grove) and SB 990 (Moorlach) that would have helped independent contractors hurt by AB 5 (Gonzalez, 2019) . Senator Bates is a co-author of...

Sen. Patricia Bates Responds to Governor’s Announcements Regarding Partial Business Reopening and Orange County Beaches

May 4, 2020
Governor Newsom announced today that some California retail businesses can reopen with some modifications by the end of this week. He also announced that Laguna Beach and San Clemente city-run beaches will be allowed to reopen to the public this week. Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued...

Senator Patricia Bates' Statement on Governor's Closure of Orange County Beaches

April 30, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement after Governor Newsom announced today that he is closing all beaches in Orange County: “I have supported most of the Governor’s efforts to manage California’s COVID-19 response, but I strongly disagree with today’s order...

Senator Patricia Bates Applauds Passage of Federal COVID-19 Relief Bill

April 24, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement after the President signed a bipartisan $484 billion bill today to help small businesses and hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic: “I thank the President and both parties in Congress for putting aside their differences to...

In Case You Missed It: "Rent-Reduction Bill a Vast Abuse of Power"

April 22, 2020
The Orange County Register published an op-ed earlier this week by columnist Steven Greenhut explaining why the California State Legislature should oppose Assembly Bill 828 (Ting), which purports to protect tenants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Greenhut writes, “Rents are high because there’s not...

Senate Leader Toni Atkins Appoints Sen. Patricia Bates as Vice Chair of COVID-19 Response Committee

April 15, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) announced today that Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) has appointed her vice chair of a special committee that will review California’s response to COVID-19. The Special Committee on Pandemic Emergency Response, a bipartisan committee...

Sen. Patricia Bates and Asm. Bill Brough Postpone South OC Senior Day to Protect Public Health

March 11, 2020
Out of an abundance of caution for the wellbeing of Californians, Senator Patricia Bates and Assemblyman Bill Brough announced today that they are postponing their annual South Orange County Senior Day that was to have taken place this Friday, March 13, in Mission Viejo. Given that the federal...

Senator Patricia Bates Authors Measure to Clarify DMV Voter Registration Process

March 10, 2020
While Senate Democrats suppressed Senator Patricia Bates’ (R-Laguna Niguel) bill that would have restored “opt-in” voter registration at the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) last January , she has introduced a new bill that she hopes they will support: clarifying the existing DMV voter...

Senator Patricia Bates Authors Measure to Clarify Prop. 13 (1978) Property "Change of Ownership"

March 9, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) announced today that she has reintroduced legislation to correct an outdated interpretation of property “change of ownership” that has been part of the long running debate around commercial property and Proposition 13 (the 1978 initiative that limited...

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Bill to Protect Emergency Preparedness at Shuttered San Onofre Nuclear Plant Clears First Hurdle

April 23, 2019
The Senate Government Organization Committee today approved Senate Bill 465 by Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) that would ensure local governments continue to receive funding for offsite emergency response planning, training, and exercises related to the shuttered San Onofre Nuclear...

Statement on Governor's Wildfire Strike Team Report

April 12, 2019
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management, issued the following statement after Governor Newsom released his administration’s report today on addressing wildfires: “The report is a welcome contribution to the ongoing discussion on...

Senate Committee Approves Sen. Bates' Bill to Screen All Sexually Violent Predators Before Release

April 9, 2019
The Senate Public Safety Committee today approved Senate Bill 141 by Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) that would improve the safety of California’s communities by requiring all inmates convicted of a sexually violent offense to be administered a comprehensive risk assessment before their...

Sen. Bates' Statement on Latest DMV Motor Voter Revelations

April 9, 2019
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) released the following statement after the Los Angeles Times published its investigation today that found that the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) launched automatic voter registration despite computer bugs, exposure to hackers, and other...

Sen. Bates' License Portability Bill Wins Bipartisan Support

April 8, 2019
The Senate Business, Professions, and Economic Development Committee today approved Senate Bill 679 by Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) that would streamline the process for licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCCs), marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), and clinical social...

Sen. Bates' Effort to Ban Deceptive Marketing in Rehab Industry Clears Major Hurdle

April 3, 2019
The Senate Health Committee this evening approved Senate Bill 589 by Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) that would prohibit an operator of addiction treatment facilities from providing any form of false advertising or marketing services. “California’s hands-off approach to the addiction...

Senate Committee Blocks Sen. Bates' Bill to Address Fentanyl Drug Trafficking

March 26, 2019
For the third year in a row, the Senate Public Safety Committee today in a party line vote refused to pass Senate Bill 161 by Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) that would help protect Californians from the dangers of fentanyl and pursue illegal distributors. “It’s disappointing that the...

Statement on Governor’s Wildfire Emergency Declaration

March 22, 2019
SACRAMENTO – Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management, issued the following statement after Governor Newsom declared a statewide emergency today to speed up fire prevention efforts: “The Governor deserves credit for acting with...

National Federation of Independent Business Confers "Guardian of Small Business" Award to Sen. Patricia Bates

March 20, 2019
Sen. Bates with John Kabateck, NFIB State Director in California. Photo credit: Nate Haderlie. SACRAMENTO – The National Federation of Independent Business , one of the nation’s leading advocates for small and independent business owners, awarded its “Guardian of Small Business” award to Senator...

Senator Patricia Bates' Statement on Governor's Death Penalty Announcement

March 13, 2019
SACRAMENTO – Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement today in response to Governor Newsom’s announcement that he will suspend California’s death penalty: “I’m disappointed that today’s action undermines the will of California’s voters who spoke clearly in 2016 to...

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Senate Republican Leader Bates' Bill on Active Shooter Training on School Campuses Earns Approval of Key Senate Committee

April 26, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Senate Bill 1203 recently passed out of the Senate Education Committee unanimously. In response to recent shootings on school campuses across the United States, Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) authored SB 1203 which would bring the education code up-to-date...

Senate Public Safety Committee Kills Anti-Pimping Bill

April 25, 2018
SACRAMENTO – The Senate Public Safety Committee yesterday rejected an amended version of Senate Bill 1204 by Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) that would have doubled the penalty (from a maximum of 6 months to a maximum of 12 months in county jail) for directing,...

Senate GOP Leader Bates' Bill to End "Patient Brokering" Clears First Hurdle

April 25, 2018
SACRAMENTO - The Senate Health Committee today unanimously approved Senate Bill 1290 by Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) that would end the practice of treating people with drug addiction as commodities that can be bought, sold and exploited by residential treatment...

Senate Republican Leader Bates' Effort to Prevent Early Release of Serious Felons and Sex Offenders Blocked by Senate Public Safety Committee

April 24, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Democrats on the Senate Public Safety Committee today voted down Senate Bill 976 by Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) that would have prohibited the early release of many dangerous offenders into local communities. Senator Bates authored a similar bill, SB 75...

Senate Committee Approves Senate GOP Leader Bates' Bill to Require Background Checks in Residential Treatment Facilities

April 19, 2018
SACRAMENTO – The Senate Health Committee yesterday evening approved Senate Bill 902 by Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) on a bipartisan vote that would require a state and federal criminal background check for operators of a residential treatment facility (RTF). “I am...

Senate Republican Leader Bates' Statement on Barbara Bush's Passing

April 17, 2018
Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) has released the following statement on the passing of Former First Lady Barbara Bush: “I am heartbroken to learn of Barbara Bush's passing as she displayed an unwavering love for America. She vigorously championed the cause of family...

Senate Republican Leader Bates' Opioid Education Bill Earns Bipartisan Support

April 16, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senate Bill 1109 , authored by Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) passed out of the Senate Business, Professions, and Economic Development Committee with bipartisan support. SB 1109 would educate the public, especially those who are involved with youth,...

Senate Public Safety Committee Blocks Bill to Address Fentanyl Drug Trafficking

April 10, 2018
SACRAMENTO – The Senate Public Safety Committee today refused to pass Senate Bill 1103 by Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) that would enhance criminal penalties for illegal distributors of fentanyl, which has been linked to numerous deaths in California in recent years. “...

California Senate Republicans Request In-depth Review of Attorney General's Prohibited Firearms List

April 4, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) recently delivered a letter, signed by all 13 members of the Senate Republican Caucus , to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. The letter highlighted the need for an in-depth review of the state’s Armed Prohibited...

Senate Republican Leader Bates Issues Statement on Passing of Governor's Chief of Staff

March 23, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) issued the following statement after Governor Jerry Brown announced today that Nancy McFadden, who served as his executive secretary and chief of staff since 2011, passed away last night after a long battle with ovarian cancer...

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