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In April 2020, Obernolte criticized the CA governor for using the state's emergency fund to shore up the state's social non-health related safety nets, including spending on food banks. Additionally, in August 2020, Obernolte voted against AB685, a bill which would increase data gathering and distribution by the state and increase the responsibility of businesses to protect and make employees aware of COVID-19 hazards in the workplace. Obernolte co-sponsored a successful bill that authorized flexibility to nursing students on their clinical placements to allow for telehealth and other settings to be used due to the limitations of available positions because of COVID-19.
Obernolte wants to repeal and replace the ACA and does not support a public health care option. Obernolte believes in more price transparency and more marketplace competition to reduce costs. He also authored an unsuccessful bill in support of Health Savings Accounts (AB 1140).
In the CA State Assembly, Obernolte voted against AB 1793, which would expunge past marijuana convictions and also voted against bills that would permit veterinarians to recommend cannabis and allow schoolchildren to use medical marijuana. He did vote yes on a bill (AB 2020) to expand places where cannabis events can be held. In 2019, he voted against cannabis compassion programs for patients (SB 34).
Obernolte has said that, “We have gotten into the habit of not thinking about mental health holistically as a part of overall physical health and it really ought to be.” In the State Assembly, Obernolte sponsored ACR92, a piece of legislation that dedicated May 2019 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. In 2020, Obernolte voted in favor of AB465, which would require a licensed mental health professional to oversee any program permitting mental health professionals to respond to emergency mental health crisis calls in collaboration with law enforcement, and AB3242, which "authorizes the involuntary commitment and treatment of persons with specified mental health disorders for the protection of the persons so committed," for a period up to 72 hours. Additionally, he voted in favor of SB803, which requires the Medi-Cal program "to establish statewide requirements for counties or their representatives to use in developing certification programs for the certification of peer support specialists" by July 1, 2022. He also authored a successful bill that authorizes Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) interns and trainees to provide services via telehealth, under specified supervision, in order to gain supervised hours required for licensure (AB 250).
In Congress, Obernolte says he will work to lower the cost of prescription drugs.
Obernolte has said that, as a member of Congress, he "will work to make the VA accountable, ensuring Veterans receive the care and benefits they were promised."
Obernolte is pro-life and has been endorsed by pro-life organizations such as the California Catholic Daily and Californians for Life.
In Congress, Obernolte seeks to put more emphasis on protecting access to health care in rural areas and stopping surprise medical billing. Obernolte authored and passed a bill, which was subsequently vetoed, that would have required more information sharing among agencies to protect vulnerable populations from individuals who had "administrative actions" taken against them. He also authored a bill that became law (AB 1396) to help prevent elder abuse by giving judges the option of ordering the restrained party to attend clinical counseling or anger management courses to break the cycle of abuse. Obernolte authored a bill to recognize Lyme Disease Awareness Month in CA.
