Releases

Senators Patricia Bates and John Moorlach Author "Voter Roll Accuracy Act" to Increase Election Integrity

February 27, 2020
Senators Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) and John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) announced that they have jointly introduced the “Voter Roll Accuracy Act” ( Senate Bill 994 ) to increase the accuracy of county voter rolls by requiring jury commissioners to share relevant changes in a prospective juror’s...

Senator Patricia Bates Authors Additional Bills to Protect Recovering Addicts from Exploitation

February 26, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) announced today that she has introduced two additional bills to help improve outcomes for people recovering from substance addiction. SB 1144 requires the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to take action against an unlicensed facility if...

Senator Patricia Bates Introduces Measure to Eliminate Filing Fees for Non-Profits

February 21, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) announced today that she has introduced legislation in partnership with the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) to eliminate filing fees for non-profit organizations applying for a state tax exemption. “I’m pleased to work with the Franchise Tax Board to...

Senator Patricia Bates Announces More State Funding for South OC Cities to Create Housing

February 20, 2020
SACRAMENTO – Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) has announced that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has awarded planning grants to the cities of San Clemente ($310,000) and San Juan Capistrano ($160,000) to help create more housing supply. This is in...

Senator Patricia Bates Responds to State of the State

February 19, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement today after Governor Gavin Newsom delivered his “State of the State” speech to a joint convention of the California Legislature: “California is a land of dreamers and doers, and I appreciate the Governor’s positive tone about...

Senator Patricia Bates Authors Measure to Keep Sex Offender Court Hearings Open to the Public

February 18, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) announced today that she has introduced legislation in partnership with San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan to extend the presumption of openness that exists in California courtrooms to proceedings under the Sexually Violent Predator Act. “...

Senator Patricia Bates Authors "Brandon's Law" to Ban Deceptive Marketing in Rehab Industry

January 29, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) announced today that she has introduced “Brandon’s Law” ( Senate Bill 863 ) to prohibit an operator of rehabilitation treatment facilities from providing any form of false advertising or marketing services. The new bill is similar to Senate Bill 589 that...

Sen. Patricia Bates Introduces Legislation to Help California's Newspapers & Freelance Journalists

January 23, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) announced today that she has introduced two bills to help newspapers and freelance journalists continue to operate in California by exempting them from the state’s new anti-independent contracting law, Assembly Bill 5 (Gonzalez, 2019). “Assembly Bill 5 took...

Senate Health Committee Blocks Bill to End Referral Payments for Recovering Addicts

January 15, 2020
The Senate Health Committee today blocked Senate Bill 486 by Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) that would have prohibited commercially-operated substance abuse recovery residences (also known as sober living homes) from engaging in patient brokering. “It’s sad that today’s decision means...

Senate Committee Again Rejects Bill to Address Fentanyl Drug Trafficking

January 14, 2020
For the fourth year in a row, the Senate Public Safety Committee today refused to pass legislation written by Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) and sponsored by Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes that would help protect Californians from the dangers of fentanyl and pursue illegal distributors...

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Senator Patricia Bates Responds to Governor Newsom's Housing Plan Involving Gas Taxes

March 11, 2019
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement today in response to Governor Newsom’s housing plan that would withhold gas tax money for road repairs unless local communities meet certain conditions. “The Governor’s proposal to hold money for road repairs captive unless...

Senator Patricia Bates Honors Carlsbad’s Lisa Rodman as 36th Senate District Woman of the Year

March 4, 2019
Front row from left to right: Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis; Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins; Sen. Patricia Bates; Woman of the Year Honoree Lisa Rodman; Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove; and Sen. Connie Leyva, Chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus. Photo taken by Lorie Shelley...

Senator Patricia Bates Introduces Bill to Close Campaign Finance Loophole

February 27, 2019
SACRAMENTO – Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) has introduced Senate Bill 401 , which would close a major loophole that allows elected officials and candidates to avoid contribution limits. SB 401 would subject candidate-controlled ballot measure committees to the same contribution limits...

OC Lawmakers Partner with Law Enforcement for Legislation to Track Fatal Collisions Involving Drugs

February 15, 2019
SACRAMENTO - Senator Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) and Assemblyman William Brough ( R-Dana Point) have introduced Senate Bill 283 and Assembly Bill 551 to require law enforcement to drug test in cases of fatalities occurring within 48 hours of a traffic collision. Current state law only...

Senator Bates' Response to Governor's State of the State

February 12, 2019
SACRAMENTO - Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) released the following statement in response to Governor Newsom's State of the State remarks: "Californians by their nature are optimistic and I appreciate the Governor's upbeat tone about addressing the state's many challenges. I welcome his...

Senator Bates Earns 100% Score as a Champion for Small Businesses Four Years in a Row

February 1, 2019
SACRAMENTO – Senator Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) announced today that she has earned a 100 percent score from the nonpartisan National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) on its 2018 legislative score card . The NFIB advocates for America’s small and independent business owners,...

Drug Trafficking Legislation Aims at Protecting California from the Dangers of Fentanyl

January 24, 2019
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) introduced Senate Bill 161 which would help protect Californians from the dangers of fentanyl and pursue illegal distributors. In December 2018, federal health officials named fentanyl America’s deadliest drug and has officially...

Senator Patricia Bates Reacts to Governor's 2019-20 Budget Plan

January 10, 2019
SACRAMENTO - Today, Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) provided the following statement on Governor Newsom's 2019-20 budget proposal: "In Governor Newsom's first budget there is a lot to applaud, including expanded efforts to pay off debt, build the state's reserves, and increase the Earned...

Senator Bates' Statement on California's New Governor

January 7, 2019
SACRAMENTO - Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement today as the California State Legislature bid farewell to Governor Jerry Brown and welcomed Gavin Newsom as the state's new governor: "I congratulate Governor Newsom on his inauguration and wish him well as he...

Senate Concurrent Resolution Honors President George H.W. Bush

January 4, 2019
SACRAMENTO – Senator Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) recently introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 3 which would mark June 12, 2019, and every June 12th annually as President George H.W. Bush Day. Our nation’s 41st Commander-in-Chief was born on June 12, 1924. SCR 3 is currently in the Senate...

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Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates and Asm. Bill Brough Respond to State Auditor's Report on South OC Wastewater Authority

March 22, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) and Assemblyman Bill Brough ( R-Dana Point ) issued the following statement after the nonpartisan State Auditor’s office released its audit today of the South Orange County Wastewater Authority (SOCWA). “This state audit...

Senate Republican Leader Bates Issues Statement on New Senate President pro Tem

March 21, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) issued the following statement following a Senate floor ceremony this afternoon where Senator Toni Atkins ( D-San Diego ) took the oath of office as Senate President pro Tempore: “I congratulate Senator Atkins on assuming the...

Senate Republican Leader Bates Partners with Governor Brown and Legislative Leaders to Address the Impacts of Natural Disasters and Climate Change

March 13, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Following a year of devastating floods, fires, mudslides and other extreme weather, Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) joined Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. and other legislative leaders: Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León ( D-Los Angeles ), Assembly...

Senate GOP Leader Patricia Bates Responds to Yet Another Massive Cost Increase for High-Speed Rail

March 9, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement after the California High-Speed Rail Authority released a business plan today that estimates the project’s cost jumping another 20 percent (from $64 billion to $77 billion) and the opening date...

Senate GOP Leader Patricia Bates Introduces Bill Emphasizing Education to Reduce Opioid Tragedies

February 13, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Working in partnership with San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan, Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) announced today that she has introduced Senate Bill 1109 to help address the opioid epidemic in California. “Education is one of the most powerful weapons...

Senate GOP Leader Patricia Bates Receives 2017 Life Sciences Champion Award

February 8, 2018
Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) was recognized last night as one of three state legislators to receive a “2017 Life Sciences Champion Award” from the California Life Sciences Association (CLSA). The award was presented at a legislative reception in Sacramento.

Senate GOP Leader Bates Urges Governor to Sign Legislative Employee Whistleblower Protection Act

February 5, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) issued the following statement after Assembly Bill 403 , authored by Republican Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez ( R-Lake Elsinore ) and amended in the Senate to include an urgency clause, passed on the Assembly Floor...

Senator Patricia Bates Earns 100% Score From National Federation of Independent Business

February 2, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) announced today that she has earned a 100 percent score from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) on its 2017 legislative score card . The NFIB is one of the nation’s leading advocates for small business...

Senate GOP Leader Patricia Bates Applauds Passage of Legislative Whistleblower Bill

February 1, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates ( R-Laguna Niguel ) issued the following statement after the California State Senate approved Assembly Bill 403 , the Legislative Employee Whistleblower Protection Act, which has been championed by Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez ( R-Lake Elsinore...

Senate GOP Leader Patricia Bates Responds to Governor's State of the State Address

January 25, 2018
Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement in response to Governor Brown's State of the State address today: "I congratulate Governor Brown on his final State of the State speech. He will leave behind a deep legacy of public service to Californians. "...

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