Senate Health Committee advances two governor nominees; behavioral health and developmental-disabilities directors testify

The Ohio Senate Health Committee on an unspecified date advanced a slate of governor’s appointments that included Tia Marotti for director of the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health and Lindsay Nash for director of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.

Tia Marotti told the committee she is “honored to be here and grateful for the trust that Governor DeWine has placed in me,” and outlined priorities including stricter fiscal oversight, better contract management and stronger data use to tie spending to measurable outcomes. She said operational stability and workforce development will be central to her approach.

Lindsay Nash summarized a career that included agency counsel and interim leadership at the Department of Developmental Disabilities and said she will focus on strengthening residential services, expanding system capacity and centering “the voices, choices and dignity of people with disabilities.”

After brief remarks from committee members praising the nominees’ intentions, Senator Johnson moved to favorably report the slate to the Senate Committee on Rules and Reference; the clerk called the roll and the motion passed by majority vote. The committee took no further action on confirmation during the session and reported the appointments forward for consideration by the full Senate.