diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 0834813..07442f9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ jobs:
       rust_required: ${{ steps.classify.outputs.rust_required }}
       npm_required: ${{ steps.classify.outputs.npm_required }}
       workflow_required: ${{ steps.classify.outputs.workflow_required }}
+      claim_docs_required: ${{ steps.classify.outputs.claim_docs_required }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ jobs:
           rust_required="$force_all"
           npm_required="$force_all"
           workflow_required=false
+          claim_docs_required="$force_all"
           while IFS= read -r file; do
             [ -n "$file" ] || continue
             case "$file" in
@@ -63,17 +65,38 @@ jobs:
               Cargo.toml|Cargo.lock|crates/*|examples/*|corpus/*|oracle/*)
                 rust_required=true
                 ;;
-              # npm package, launcher, and release helper changes require npm smoke.
+              # npm package and launcher changes require npm smoke.
               npm/*)
                 npm_required=true
                 ;;
+              # Claim-bearing docs/matrices validate public support and benchmark claims
+              # without forcing Rust/npm unless another changed path requires them.
+              docs/command-support-matrix.json|docs/command-benchmark-manifest.json|docs/TOOL_FEEDBACK.md|docs/EVALUATION_GATES.md|docs/COMMAND_SUPPORT_MATRIX.md|docs/COMMAND_BENCHMARK_MANIFEST.md|README.md)
+                claim_docs_required=true
+                ;;
+              # Named release/npm helpers get the smallest lane that proves their contract.
+              scripts/check-release-version.js|scripts/npm-publish-plan.js|scripts/npm-dist-tag-check.js|scripts/release-config.js)
+                npm_required=true
+                ;;
+              scripts/npm-preview-smoke.js|scripts/package-release.js|scripts/release-dry-run.sh)
+                rust_required=true
+                npm_required=true
+                ;;
+              scripts/validate-command-support-matrix.js)
+                claim_docs_required=true
+                ;;
+              scripts/verify.sh)
+                rust_required=true
+                npm_required=true
+                claim_docs_required=true
+                ;;
               scripts/*)
                 rust_required=true
                 npm_required=true
                 ;;
               # Inert docs and decorative brand assets need only the lightweight gate.
               # Policy: assets/brand/** must not contain runtime/package/test inputs.
-              assets/brand/*|docs/*|README.md|AGENTS.md)
+              assets/brand/*|docs/*|AGENTS.md)
                 ;;
               # Other GitHub metadata is validated by the lightweight aggregate gate.
               .github/*)
@@ -91,6 +114,7 @@ jobs:
             printf 'rust_required=%s\n' "$rust_required"
             printf 'npm_required=%s\n' "$npm_required"
             printf 'workflow_required=%s\n' "$workflow_required"
+            printf 'claim_docs_required=%s\n' "$claim_docs_required"
           } >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
   docs-check:
@@ -111,6 +135,18 @@ jobs:
           git cat-file -e "$HEAD^{commit}" 2>/dev/null || git fetch --no-tags --depth=1 origin "$HEAD"
           git diff --check "$BASE" "$HEAD"
 
+  claim-docs-check:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs: changes
+    if: ${{ needs.changes.outputs.claim_docs_required == 'true' }}
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: '20'
+      - name: Validate claim-bearing docs and matrices
+        run: node scripts/validate-command-support-matrix.js
+
   workflow-check:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: changes
@@ -126,7 +162,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
-          go run github.com/rhysd/actionlint/cmd/actionlint@latest .github/workflows/ci.yml
+          go run github.com/rhysd/actionlint/cmd/actionlint@latest .github/workflows/ci.yml .github/workflows/release.yml
       - name: Assert CI routing policy
         shell: bash
         run: |
@@ -138,10 +174,14 @@ jobs:
             local rust_required="$force_all"
             local npm_required="$force_all"
             local workflow_required=false
+            local claim_docs_required="$force_all"
             while IFS= read -r file; do
               [ -n "$file" ] || continue
               case "$file" in
-                assets/brand/*|docs/*|README.md|AGENTS.md)
+                docs/command-support-matrix.json|docs/command-benchmark-manifest.json|docs/TOOL_FEEDBACK.md|docs/EVALUATION_GATES.md|docs/COMMAND_SUPPORT_MATRIX.md|docs/COMMAND_BENCHMARK_MANIFEST.md|README.md)
+                  claim_docs_required=true
+                  ;;
+                assets/brand/*|docs/*|AGENTS.md)
                   ;;
                 .github/workflows/*)
                   workflow_required=true
@@ -154,6 +194,21 @@ jobs:
                 npm/*)
                   npm_required=true
                   ;;
+                scripts/check-release-version.js|scripts/npm-publish-plan.js|scripts/npm-dist-tag-check.js|scripts/release-config.js)
+                  npm_required=true
+                  ;;
+                scripts/npm-preview-smoke.js|scripts/package-release.js|scripts/release-dry-run.sh)
+                  rust_required=true
+                  npm_required=true
+                  ;;
+                scripts/validate-command-support-matrix.js)
+                  claim_docs_required=true
+                  ;;
+                scripts/verify.sh)
+                  rust_required=true
+                  npm_required=true
+                  claim_docs_required=true
+                  ;;
                 scripts/*)
                   rust_required=true
                   npm_required=true
@@ -164,7 +219,7 @@ jobs:
                   ;;
               esac
             done <<< "$changed_files"
-            printf 'workflow=%s rust=%s npm=%s' "$workflow_required" "$rust_required" "$npm_required"
+            printf 'workflow=%s claim_docs=%s rust=%s npm=%s' "$workflow_required" "$claim_docs_required" "$rust_required" "$npm_required"
           }
 
           assert_route() {
@@ -181,14 +236,18 @@ jobs:
             printf 'routing assertion passed for %s: %s\n' "$name" "$actual"
           }
 
-          assert_route 'docs and decorative brand assets' $'assets/brand/mascot.png\ndocs/guide.md\nREADME.md' false 'workflow=false rust=false npm=false'
-          assert_route 'GitHub workflow edits' '.github/workflows/ci.yml' false 'workflow=true rust=false npm=false'
-          assert_route 'GitHub metadata edits' '.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md' false 'workflow=false rust=false npm=false'
-          assert_route 'Rust workspace edits' 'crates/tfy-cli/src/main.rs' false 'workflow=false rust=true npm=false'
-          assert_route 'npm package edits' 'npm/tfy-cli/README.md' false 'workflow=false rust=false npm=true'
-          assert_route 'script edits' 'scripts/npm-preview-smoke.js' false 'workflow=false rust=true npm=true'
-          assert_route 'unknown root image edits' 'image.svg' false 'workflow=false rust=true npm=true'
-          assert_route 'uncertain new branch push' 'assets/brand/mascot.png' true 'workflow=false rust=true npm=true'
+          assert_route 'inert docs and decorative brand assets' $'assets/brand/mascot.png\ndocs/guide.md\nAGENTS.md' false 'workflow=false claim_docs=false rust=false npm=false'
+          assert_route 'claim-bearing docs and matrices' $'docs/COMMAND_SUPPORT_MATRIX.md\ndocs/command-support-matrix.json\nREADME.md' false 'workflow=false claim_docs=true rust=false npm=false'
+          assert_route 'GitHub workflow edits' '.github/workflows/ci.yml' false 'workflow=true claim_docs=false rust=false npm=false'
+          assert_route 'GitHub metadata edits' '.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md' false 'workflow=false claim_docs=false rust=false npm=false'
+          assert_route 'Rust workspace edits' 'crates/tfy-cli/src/main.rs' false 'workflow=false claim_docs=false rust=true npm=false'
+          assert_route 'npm package edits' 'npm/tfy-cli/README.md' false 'workflow=false claim_docs=false rust=false npm=true'
+          assert_route 'release metadata helper edits' 'scripts/check-release-version.js' false 'workflow=false claim_docs=false rust=false npm=true'
+          assert_route 'claim validator edits' 'scripts/validate-command-support-matrix.js' false 'workflow=false claim_docs=true rust=false npm=false'
+          assert_route 'verify script edits' 'scripts/verify.sh' false 'workflow=false claim_docs=true rust=true npm=true'
+          assert_route 'script edits' 'scripts/npm-preview-smoke.js' false 'workflow=false claim_docs=false rust=true npm=true'
+          assert_route 'unknown root image edits' 'image.svg' false 'workflow=false claim_docs=false rust=true npm=true'
+          assert_route 'uncertain new branch push' 'assets/brand/mascot.png' true 'workflow=false claim_docs=true rust=true npm=true'
 
   rust:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -231,16 +290,18 @@ jobs:
   ci-required:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     if: ${{ always() }}
-    needs: [changes, docs-check, workflow-check, rust, npm-preview-smoke]
+    needs: [changes, docs-check, claim-docs-check, workflow-check, rust, npm-preview-smoke]
     steps:
       - name: Check required CI results
         shell: bash
         env:
           CHANGES_RESULT: ${{ needs.changes.result }}
           DOCS_CHECK_RESULT: ${{ needs.docs-check.result }}
+          CLAIM_DOCS_RESULT: ${{ needs.claim-docs-check.result }}
           WORKFLOW_RESULT: ${{ needs.workflow-check.result }}
           RUST_RESULT: ${{ needs.rust.result }}
           NPM_RESULT: ${{ needs.npm-preview-smoke.result }}
+          CLAIM_DOCS_REQUIRED: ${{ needs.changes.outputs.claim_docs_required }}
           WORKFLOW_REQUIRED: ${{ needs.changes.outputs.workflow_required }}
           RUST_REQUIRED: ${{ needs.changes.outputs.rust_required }}
           NPM_REQUIRED: ${{ needs.changes.outputs.npm_required }}
@@ -256,6 +317,16 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
 
+          if [ "$CLAIM_DOCS_REQUIRED" = "true" ]; then
+            if [ "$CLAIM_DOCS_RESULT" != "success" ]; then
+              echo "claim-docs-check required but result was $CLAIM_DOCS_RESULT" >&2
+              exit 1
+            fi
+          elif [ "$CLAIM_DOCS_RESULT" != "skipped" ]; then
+            echo "claim-docs-check should be skipped but result was $CLAIM_DOCS_RESULT" >&2
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
           if [ "$WORKFLOW_REQUIRED" = "true" ]; then
             if [ "$WORKFLOW_RESULT" != "success" ]; then
               echo "workflow-check required but result was $WORKFLOW_RESULT" >&2
@@ -286,4 +357,4 @@ jobs:
             exit 1
           fi
 
-          echo "ci-required passed; workflow_required=$WORKFLOW_REQUIRED rust_required=$RUST_REQUIRED npm_required=$NPM_REQUIRED"
+          echo "ci-required passed; claim_docs_required=$CLAIM_DOCS_REQUIRED workflow_required=$WORKFLOW_REQUIRED rust_required=$RUST_REQUIRED npm_required=$NPM_REQUIRED"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 093ce1d..62771d9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ jobs:
       prerelease: ${{ steps.metadata.outputs.prerelease }}
       npm_dist_tag: ${{ steps.metadata.outputs.npm_dist_tag }}
       target_sha: ${{ steps.ref.outputs.target_sha }}
+      release_tools_sha: ${{ steps.tools.outputs.release_tools_sha }}
     steps:
       - name: Resolve and validate source ref default
         id: defaults
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ jobs:
             fi
           fi
 
+          # shellcheck disable=SC1083 # @{ is literal ref-syntax rejection, not shell expansion.
           if [[ ! "$source_ref" =~ ^(main|develop|release/[A-Za-z0-9._/-]+)$ ]] || [[ "$source_ref" == *..* ]] || [[ "$source_ref" == *//* ]] || [[ "$source_ref" == */ ]] || [[ "$source_ref" == *@{* ]]; then
             echo "source_ref contains unsupported characters or ref syntax" >&2
             exit 1
@@ -90,6 +92,11 @@ jobs:
           ref: ${{ github.event.repository.default_branch }}
           path: release-tools
 
+      - name: Pin trusted release tooling revision
+        id: tools
+        shell: bash
+        run: printf 'release_tools_sha=%s\n' "$(git -C release-tools rev-parse HEAD)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
       - name: Checkout release source ref
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
@@ -166,7 +173,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout trusted release tooling
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.repository.default_branch }}
+          ref: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.release_tools_sha }}
           path: release-tools
       - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
       - uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
@@ -175,8 +182,6 @@ jobs:
           node-version: '20'
       - name: Full local gate
         run: ./scripts/verify.sh
-      - name: NPM helper tests
-        run: npm test --prefix npm/tfy-cli
 
   build:
     name: Build ${{ matrix.rust_target }}
@@ -202,7 +207,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout trusted release tooling
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.repository.default_branch }}
+          ref: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.release_tools_sha }}
           path: release-tools
       - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
         with:
@@ -251,7 +256,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout trusted release tooling
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.repository.default_branch }}
+          ref: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.release_tools_sha }}
           path: release-tools
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
@@ -302,6 +307,7 @@ jobs:
           npm dist-tag: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.npm_dist_tag }}
           Source ref: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.source_ref }}
           Target commit: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.target_sha }}
+          Release tooling commit: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.release_tools_sha }}
 
           This release provides GitHub Release archives and SHA-256 checksums for the npm installer. It does not change TFY claim boundaries: host launch support and token-saving claims still require route-bound evidence.
           EOF_NOTES
@@ -345,6 +351,11 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           ref: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.target_sha }}
+      - name: Checkout trusted release tooling
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ needs.preflight.outputs.release_tools_sha }}
+          path: release-tools
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
           node-version: '24'
@@ -352,14 +363,17 @@ jobs:
       - name: Verify npm Trusted Publishing runtime
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
+          # shellcheck disable=SC2016 # JavaScript template expressions must be passed literally to node.
           node -e 'const [major] = process.versions.node.split(".").map(Number); if (major < 24) throw new Error(`Node ${process.versions.node} is too old for npm Trusted Publishing`); console.log(`node ${process.versions.node}`);'
           NPM_VERSION="$(npm --version)"
           export NPM_VERSION
+          # shellcheck disable=SC2016 # JavaScript template expressions must be passed literally to node.
           node -e 'const version = process.env.NPM_VERSION.split(".").map(Number); const min = [11, 5, 1]; for (let i = 0; i < min.length; i += 1) { if (version[i] > min[i]) break; if (version[i] < min[i]) throw new Error(`npm ${process.env.NPM_VERSION} is too old for npm Trusted Publishing`); } console.log(`npm ${process.env.NPM_VERSION}`);'
       - name: Print npm publish plan
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
-          node scripts/npm-publish-plan.js \
+          node release-tools/scripts/npm-publish-plan.js \
+            --root "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE" \
             --version "${{ needs.preflight.outputs.version }}" \
             --channel "${{ inputs.channel }}" \
             --source-ref "${{ needs.preflight.outputs.source_ref }}"
@@ -373,7 +387,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
           args=(
-            node scripts/npm-dist-tag-check.js
+            node release-tools/scripts/npm-dist-tag-check.js
             --version "${{ needs.preflight.outputs.version }}"
             --channel "${{ inputs.channel }}"
           )
diff --git a/docs/RELEASE_READINESS.md b/docs/RELEASE_READINESS.md
index 08530a4..f7956e7 100644
--- a/docs/RELEASE_READINESS.md
+++ b/docs/RELEASE_READINESS.md
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ Intel Mac (`darwin:x64` / `x86_64-apple-darwin`) is not provided as a prebuilt n
 Required local checks for the npm path:
 
 ```sh
-./scripts/npm-preview-smoke.sh
+node scripts/npm-preview-smoke.js
 ./scripts/release-dry-run.sh
 node scripts/npm-publish-plan.js --version 0.1.1-preview.0 --channel preview --source-ref develop
 node scripts/npm-publish-plan.js --version 0.1.1 --channel stable --source-ref main
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ Metadata contract:
 
 Preview archive names intentionally omit the `-preview.N` suffix because the npm installer resolves the full tag while using base-version asset names. For example, `@ium/tfy-cli@0.1.1-preview.0` downloads from tag `v0.1.1-preview.0` and expects `tfy-0.1.1-linux-x86_64.tar.gz` plus `.sha256`.
 
-The workflow fails closed when version metadata is inconsistent, when `source_ref` does not match the channel, when the tag or release already exists, or when any current npm-supported platform asset/checksum is missing. The supported matrix is shared with the npm installer in `npm/tfy-cli/scripts/lib/platform.js`.
+The workflow fails closed when version metadata is inconsistent, when `source_ref` does not match the channel, when the tag or release already exists, or when any current npm-supported platform asset/checksum is missing. Release policy and publish-plan logic run from a trusted default-branch `release-tools` checkout pinned once during preflight, while reading immutable release-source metadata through explicit roots. The supported matrix is shared with the npm installer in `npm/tfy-cli/scripts/lib/platform.js`.
 
 Local preflight examples:
 
diff --git a/docs/contributing/GIT_POLICY.md b/docs/contributing/GIT_POLICY.md
index 3f4be5f..fec04d7 100644
--- a/docs/contributing/GIT_POLICY.md
+++ b/docs/contributing/GIT_POLICY.md
@@ -141,9 +141,11 @@ Not-tested: Branch protection settings were not changed through GitHub admin API
 
 ## CI branch-protection target
 
-The CI workflow uses path-aware heavy-job skipping for docs and inert static assets. If branch protection is enabled, require the stable aggregate `ci-required` check rather than optional `rust` or `npm preview smoke (...)` jobs, because those heavy jobs intentionally skip for docs/static asset-only changes.
+The CI workflow uses path-aware heavy-job skipping for inert docs and static assets. If branch protection is enabled, require the stable aggregate `ci-required` check rather than optional lane jobs such as `rust`, `claim-docs-check`, or `npm preview smoke (...)`, because those jobs intentionally skip when their lane is not required.
 
-Do not require skipped optional heavy jobs directly unless the CI workflow is changed to make them always emit required statuses.
+Claim-bearing docs and matrices, such as command-support matrix files and public claim docs, are not treated as inert docs: CI routes them through the lightweight `claim-docs-check` lane (`node scripts/validate-command-support-matrix.js`) without forcing Rust or npm heavy lanes unless another changed path requires them.
+
+Do not require skipped optional lane jobs directly unless the CI workflow is changed to make them always emit required statuses.
 
 `assets/brand/**` is reserved for decorative brand artwork and other non-runtime identity assets. Do not place packaged runtime assets, test fixtures, release inputs, generated config, or behavior-affecting files there; use the appropriate code/package/test directory so CI routing can require Rust or npm validation.