diff --git a/tests/README.md b/tests/README.md
index c24d322d..5865e0ff 100644
--- a/tests/README.md
+++ b/tests/README.md
@@ -56,6 +56,178 @@ git commit -m "test: add <description>"
 Help
 - If a test fails due to external network calls or platform-specific behavior, try mocking the relevant endpoints and move the test to `tests/disabled` if it cannot be made deterministic.
 
+---
+
+## Deep Dive: Testing IDAA Edit Form Components
+
+This section documents hard-won lessons from writing `idaa_recovery_meeting_edit.test.ts`. These issues are not obvious and cost significant debugging time — read this before writing tests for any Svelte 5 form component.
+
+### The #1 Trap: HTML5 Form Validation Silently Blocks Submission
+
+**Symptom:** `page.waitForRequest(...)` times out after clicking the submit button. No network request appears. No JS error is thrown. The button click registers in Playwright, but nothing happens.
+
+**Cause:** A form field with `required` has `value=""` at the moment the button is clicked. The browser's native HTML5 form validation cancels `onsubmit` *before* any JavaScript runs — including Svelte's event handler. Zero network activity. Zero error output.
+
+**How to diagnose:**
+```typescript
+// Add this before the click to log ALL outgoing requests:
+page.on('request', r => console.log(`REQ: ${r.method()} ${r.url()}`));
+await page.locator('button[type="submit"]').first().click();
+// If nothing is printed after the click, HTML5 validation is the culprit.
+```
+
+**How to find the empty required field:**
+```typescript
+// Run in browser via page.evaluate():
+const bad = [...document.querySelectorAll('[required]')].filter(el => !el.value);
+console.log(bad.map(el => el.name || el.id));
+```
+
+---
+
+### The Svelte 5 `value=` One-Time Bind Trap
+
+**Symptom:** A `<select required>` or `<input required>` renders with the correct value in the browser, but in Playwright the field is empty.
+
+**Cause:** In Svelte 5, `value={someReactiveExpr}` on an uncontrolled `<input>` or `<select>` is a **one-time set at mount**. If the backing reactive store (`$ae_loc`, `liveQuery`, etc.) is empty when the component first renders, the field gets `value=""` and stays that way — even after the store updates.
+
+**Specific instance fixed:** The `[name="timezone"]` field in `ae_idaa_comp__event_obj_id_edit_v2.svelte` has two branches:
+```svelte
+{#if $ae_loc?.lu_time_zone_list?.length}
+    <select name="timezone" required value={...}>  ← renders with value ✓
+{:else}
+    <input  name="timezone" required value={...}>  ← renders with value="" ✗
+{/if}
+```
+In tests, `$ae_loc.lu_time_zone_list` was populated *after* mount by an API call, so the `{:else}` branch rendered first with `value=""` — then the store updated and switched to `<select>`, but by then the form had an empty `required` input in its history that still failed validation.
+
+**Fix:** Pre-seed `lu_time_zone_list` in `localStorage` inside `addInitScript` *before* any navigation so the `{#if}` branch renders on first mount.
+
+---
+
+### Pre-Seeding Svelte Stores via `addInitScript`
+
+`page.addInitScript()` runs a script in the page context **before** the page's own JavaScript executes. This is the correct way to set up `localStorage`-backed stores so they are populated when Svelte components first mount.
+
+**Pattern used in `setup_idaa_auth()`:**
+```typescript
+await page.addInitScript(({ ae_defaults, account_id, idaa_loc_defaults }) => {
+    const ae_loc_data = {
+        ...ae_defaults,
+        account_id,
+        authenticated_access: true,
+        trusted_access: true,
+        current_timezone: 'US/Central',
+        lu_time_zone_list: [               // ← must be seeded here, not later
+            { id: 'tz1', code: 'US/Eastern', name: 'US/Eastern' },
+            { id: 'tz2', code: 'US/Central', name: 'US/Central' },
+            // ...
+        ],
+    };
+    localStorage.setItem('ae_loc', JSON.stringify(ae_loc_data));
+    localStorage.setItem('ae_idaa_loc', JSON.stringify(idaa_loc_defaults));
+
+    // Suppress send_email() calls during tests (see api.ts guard)
+    window.__ae_test_mode = true;
+}, { ae_defaults, account_id, idaa_loc_defaults });
+```
+
+Key rules:
+- **Call `addInitScript` before any `page.goto()`** — it only applies to navigations that happen after it is registered.
+- Pass data in as a second argument (serialized by Playwright) — do not close over variables from the outer test scope.
+- Set `window.__ae_test_mode = true` here to suppress all email sends (see below).
+
+---
+
+### Suppressing Emails During Tests (`__ae_test_mode`)
+
+Components that save data via the API also call `send_staff_notification_email()`, which calls `api.send_email()`. In tests that hit the real API, this sends real emails to the configured admin address.
+
+**Fix:** `api.ts` `send_email()` checks `globalThis.__ae_test_mode` and returns immediately if it is truthy:
+```typescript
+if (typeof globalThis !== 'undefined' && (globalThis as any).__ae_test_mode) {
+    console.log(`[TEST MODE] send_email() suppressed`);
+    return null;
+}
+```
+
+**Activate it** by setting `window.__ae_test_mode = true` inside `addInitScript` (see above). This covers all callers — recovery meetings, BB posts, BB comments — without changing any call sites.
+
+---
+
+### Waiting for Reactive State Before Clicking
+
+After navigating, liveQuery and store effects run asynchronously. Use `waitForFunction` to block until the DOM reflects the expected state before interacting:
+
+```typescript
+// Wait for the form name field to be populated by liveQuery
+await page.waitForFunction(() => {
+    const name = document.querySelector('input[name="name"]') as HTMLInputElement | null;
+    return name !== null && name.value.length > 0;
+}, { timeout: 5000 });
+
+// Wait for lookup lists to load (ensures required <select> has options)
+await page.waitForFunction(() => {
+    try {
+        const sub = localStorage.getItem('lu_country_subdivision_list');
+        const cty = localStorage.getItem('lu_country_list');
+        return sub !== null && JSON.parse(sub).length > 50 &&
+               cty !== null && JSON.parse(cty).length > 50;
+    } catch { return false; }
+}, { timeout: 10000 });
+
+// Wait for the timezone required field to have a value (submit guard)
+await page.waitForFunction(() => {
+    const tz = document.querySelector('[name="timezone"]') as HTMLInputElement | null;
+    return tz !== null && tz.value.length > 0;
+}, { timeout: 10000 });
+```
+
+Use `waitForSelector` only for DOM presence. Use `waitForFunction` when you need a value or condition inside the element.
+
+---
+
+### Capturing PATCH / POST Payloads
+
+Register `page.waitForRequest(...)` **before** the click, then `await` the result after:
+
+```typescript
+async function capture_patch_body(page: any): Promise<Record<string, any>> {
+    const req_promise = page.waitForRequest(
+        (r: any) => r.url().includes(`/v3/crud/event/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`) && r.method() === 'PATCH',
+        { timeout: 5000 }
+    );
+    await page.locator('button[type="submit"]').first().click();
+    const req = await req_promise;
+    return JSON.parse(req.postData() ?? '{}');
+}
+```
+
+If `waitForRequest` times out, the cause is almost always HTML5 form validation (see top of this section).
+
+---
+
+### Route Mocking Strategy
+
+`setup_api_mocks()` accepts flags to selectively mock vs. pass through:
+
+- **`pass_through_lookups: true`** — lets country/subdivision/timezone GET calls reach the real API. Preferred for payload-verification tests because the real API returns 50+ entries, naturally satisfying the component's cache threshold without fixture arrays.
+- **`pass_through_site_domain: true`** — lets the site domain lookup reach the real API so `$ae_api` is built with real credentials. Required when the test needs to send a real PATCH.
+- Default (both false) — all API calls are intercepted and answered with fixtures. Use for pure UI tests that do not need real data.
+
+Mock the event PATCH endpoint to return success without hitting the real database when you only need to verify the payload shape:
+```typescript
+await page.route(`**/v3/crud/event/${event_id}`, async (route) => {
+    if (route.request().method() === 'PATCH') {
+        await route.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify({ success: true, id: event_id }) });
+    } else {
+        await route.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json',
+            body: JSON.stringify(mock_event) });
+    }
+});
+```
+
 
 ## Development / Testing / Demo environment information
 * Use snake_case (or Snake_Case or Snake_case or test_NASA_example or test_API_key)
diff --git a/tests/idaa_recovery_meeting_edit.test.ts b/tests/idaa_recovery_meeting_edit.test.ts
index e507d551..c0e0fd7f 100644
--- a/tests/idaa_recovery_meeting_edit.test.ts
+++ b/tests/idaa_recovery_meeting_edit.test.ts
@@ -112,6 +112,20 @@ async function setup_idaa_auth(page: any) {
                 administrator_access: false,
                 access_type: 'trusted',
                 iframe: false,
+                // Pre-seed the timezone list so the component renders <select required>
+                // with a real value rather than the fallback <input required value="">.
+                // Without this, $ae_loc.lu_time_zone_list is empty on first mount and
+                // the <input> renders with value="" which HTML5 required validation
+                // silently blocks form submission (onsubmit never fires, no PATCH sent).
+                current_timezone: 'US/Central',
+                lu_time_zone_list: [
+                    { id: 'tz1', code: 'US/Eastern',     name: 'US/Eastern'     },
+                    { id: 'tz2', code: 'US/Central',     name: 'US/Central'     },
+                    { id: 'tz3', code: 'US/Mountain',    name: 'US/Mountain'    },
+                    { id: 'tz4', code: 'US/Pacific',     name: 'US/Pacific'     },
+                    { id: 'tz5', code: 'Canada/Eastern', name: 'Canada/Eastern' },
+                    { id: 'tz6', code: 'UTC',            name: 'UTC'            }
+                ],
                 site_cfg_json: {
                     slct__event_id: null,
                     novi_admin_li: ['2b078deb-b4e7-4203-99da-9f7cd62159a5'],
@@ -125,6 +139,9 @@ async function setup_idaa_auth(page: any) {
             };
             window.localStorage.setItem('ae_loc', JSON.stringify(ae_loc_data));
             window.localStorage.setItem('ae_idaa_loc', JSON.stringify(idaa_loc_defaults));
+            // Suppress all send_email() calls during Playwright tests.
+            // Checked in api.ts send_email() before any fetch is made.
+            (window as any).__ae_test_mode = true;
         },
         {
             ae_defaults: ae_app_local_data_defaults,
@@ -142,11 +159,26 @@ async function setup_idaa_auth(page: any) {
  *   intercepted and will reach the real backend. The GET is still mocked so
  *   the form loads immediately from seeded IDB. Use this for integration
  *   tests that need to verify actual persistence.
+ *
+ * @param pass_through_lookups - When true, lookup table routes (time_zone,
+ *   country, country_subdivision, event_type) are forwarded to the real API
+ *   instead of being mocked. This is preferred for the payload-verification
+ *   suite because the real API returns 50+ entries, naturally satisfying the
+ *   component's "> 50 entries" cache threshold — so no trickery with
+ *   pre-seeded fixture arrays is needed.
+ *
+ * @param pass_through_site_domain - When true, the site_domain lookup also
+ *   passes through so the app builds ae_api with real credentials. Required
+ *   for full integration tests that actually hit the PATCH endpoint.
  */
 async function setup_api_mocks(
     page: any,
     event_id: string,
-    opts: { pass_through_event_patch?: boolean } = {}
+    opts: {
+        pass_through_event_patch?: boolean;
+        pass_through_lookups?: boolean;
+        pass_through_site_domain?: boolean;
+    } = {}
 ) {
     await page.route('**/v3/**', async (route: any) => {
         const url = route.request().url();
@@ -191,6 +223,9 @@ async function setup_api_mocks(
 
         // Lookup: time zones
         if (url.includes('/v3/') && url.includes('time_zone')) {
+            // Pass through to real API if requested — real data satisfies the
+            // component's "> 50 entries" cache check without fixture maintenance.
+            if (opts.pass_through_lookups) return route.continue();
             return route.fulfill({
                 status: 200,
                 contentType: 'application/json',
@@ -206,6 +241,7 @@ async function setup_api_mocks(
 
         // Lookup: countries
         if (url.includes('/v3/') && url.includes('country') && !url.includes('subdivision')) {
+            if (opts.pass_through_lookups) return route.continue();
             return route.fulfill({
                 status: 200,
                 contentType: 'application/json',
@@ -220,13 +256,14 @@ async function setup_api_mocks(
 
         // Lookup: country subdivisions (states/provinces)
         if (url.includes('/v3/') && url.includes('country_subdivision')) {
+            if (opts.pass_through_lookups) return route.continue();
             return route.fulfill({
                 status: 200,
                 contentType: 'application/json',
                 body: JSON.stringify({
                     data: [
-                        { id: 's1', code: 'US-IL', name: 'Illinois' },
-                        { id: 's2', code: 'US-NY', name: 'New York' }
+                        { id: 's1', code: 'US-IL', name: 'Illinois', country_alpha_2_code: 'US' },
+                        { id: 's2', code: 'US-NY', name: 'New York', country_alpha_2_code: 'US' }
                     ]
                 })
             });
@@ -234,6 +271,7 @@ async function setup_api_mocks(
 
         // Lookup: event types
         if (url.includes('/v3/') && url.includes('event_type')) {
+            if (opts.pass_through_lookups) return route.continue();
             return route.fulfill({
                 status: 200,
                 contentType: 'application/json',
@@ -248,8 +286,10 @@ async function setup_api_mocks(
 
         // Layout/site domain lookup — must return a proper account_id so the
         // layout builds ae_api.headers['x-account-id'] correctly.
-        // search_ae_obj_v3 expects { data: [array] }, not a single object.
+        // pass_through_site_domain=true lets the app get real credentials from
+        // dev-api.oneskyit.com; required for full integration tests.
         if (url.includes('/v3/crud/site_domain') || url.includes('/v3/lookup/')) {
+            if (opts.pass_through_site_domain) return route.continue();
             return route.fulfill({
                 status: 200,
                 contentType: 'application/json',
@@ -320,7 +360,7 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Edit Form', () => {
 
         // The edit form section has the class 'edit__event_obj'
         const form = page.locator('section.edit__event_obj');
-        await expect(form).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10000 });
+        await expect(form).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5000 });
     });
 
     test('general information section is present', async ({ page }) => {
@@ -328,7 +368,7 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Edit Form', () => {
         await seed_event_idb(page, mock_event);
         await page.goto(`/idaa/recovery_meetings/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`);
 
-        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 10000 });
+        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 5000 });
 
         // Meeting name input
         const name_input = page.locator('input[name="name"]');
@@ -347,7 +387,7 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Edit Form', () => {
         await seed_event_idb(page, mock_event);
         await page.goto(`/idaa/recovery_meetings/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`);
 
-        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 10000 });
+        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 5000 });
 
         // All seven weekday checkboxes must be present
         for (const day of [
@@ -364,7 +404,7 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Edit Form', () => {
         await seed_event_idb(page, mock_event);
         await page.goto(`/idaa/recovery_meetings/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`);
 
-        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 10000 });
+        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 5000 });
 
         await expect(page.locator('input[name="recurring_start_time"]')).toBeAttached();
         await expect(page.locator('input[name="recurring_end_time"]')).toBeAttached();
@@ -375,7 +415,7 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Edit Form', () => {
         await seed_event_idb(page, mock_event);
         await page.goto(`/idaa/recovery_meetings/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`);
 
-        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 10000 });
+        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 5000 });
 
         await expect(page.locator('input[name="contact_1_full_name"]')).toBeAttached();
         await expect(page.locator('input[name="contact_1_email"]')).toBeAttached();
@@ -390,7 +430,7 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Edit Form', () => {
         await seed_event_idb(page, mock_event);
         await page.goto(`/idaa/recovery_meetings/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`);
 
-        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 10000 });
+        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 5000 });
 
         const name_input = page.locator('input[name="name"]');
         await name_input.fill('Updated Meeting Name');
@@ -402,33 +442,55 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Edit Form', () => {
         await seed_event_idb(page, mock_event);
         await page.goto(`/idaa/recovery_meetings/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`);
 
-        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 10000 });
+        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 5000 });
 
-        const wednesday_cb = page.locator('input[name="weekday_wednesday"]');
-        const initial_state = await wednesday_cb.isChecked();
+        // Weekday checkboxes use class="sr-only" — they are visually hidden and
+        // the parent <label class="day-chip"> intercepts all pointer events.
+        // Click the label (the visible chip), not the hidden input.
+        const wednesday_cb    = page.locator('input[name="weekday_wednesday"]');
+        const wednesday_label = page.locator('label[for="weekday_wednesday"]');
+        const initial_state   = await wednesday_cb.isChecked();
 
-        await wednesday_cb.click();
+        await wednesday_label.click();
         await expect(wednesday_cb).toBeChecked({ checked: !initial_state });
 
         // Toggle back
-        await wednesday_cb.click();
+        await wednesday_label.click();
         await expect(wednesday_cb).toBeChecked({ checked: initial_state });
     });
 
     test('physical checkbox shows/hides address section', async ({ page }) => {
         await page.goto(`/`);
-        await seed_event_idb(page, mock_event);
+        await seed_event_idb(page, mock_event);  // physical=true
         await page.goto(`/idaa/recovery_meetings/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`);
 
-        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 10000 });
+        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 5000 });
 
-        // Address fieldset is present in the DOM (visibility driven by $idaa_slct.event_obj.physical)
-        const address_fieldset = page.locator('fieldset#physical_address');
-        await expect(address_fieldset).toBeAttached();
+        // v2 uses a <div class="subsection" class:hidden={!physical ...}> rather
+        // than a <fieldset id="physical_address"> (that was v1).  The address
+        // inputs are always in the DOM; visibility is driven by the Svelte
+        // class:hidden binding.  With physical=true in mock_event the div is
+        // NOT hidden, so address_name should be visible once liveQuery settles.
+        //
+        // Physical/virtual checkboxes are also sr-only — click the parent label.
+        const physical_label   = page.locator('label[for="physical"]');
+        const address_name_inp = page.locator('input[name="address_name"]');
 
-        // Address fieldset should not have the 'hidden' class since physical = true in mock event
-        // Wait for the reactivity to settle by waiting for the address_name input to be present
-        await expect(address_fieldset).not.toHaveClass(/hidden/, { timeout: 5000 });
+        await expect(physical_label).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5000 });
+
+        // mock_event has physical=true so the address section should already be
+        // visible after liveQuery settles.
+        await expect(address_name_inp).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5000 });
+
+        // Toggling physical off should hide the address section (input becomes hidden)
+        const physical_cb = page.locator('input[name="physical"]');
+        await physical_label.click();
+        await expect(physical_cb).toBeChecked({ checked: false });
+        await expect(address_name_inp).not.toBeVisible({ timeout: 3000 });
+
+        // Restore: toggle physical back on
+        await physical_label.click();
+        await expect(physical_cb).toBeChecked({ checked: true });
     });
 
     test('start time field accepts a time value', async ({ page }) => {
@@ -436,7 +498,7 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Edit Form', () => {
         await seed_event_idb(page, mock_event);
         await page.goto(`/idaa/recovery_meetings/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`);
 
-        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 10000 });
+        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 5000 });
 
         const start_time = page.locator('input[name="recurring_start_time"]');
         await start_time.fill('19:30');
@@ -448,7 +510,7 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Edit Form', () => {
         await seed_event_idb(page, mock_event);
         await page.goto(`/idaa/recovery_meetings/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`);
 
-        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 10000 });
+        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 5000 });
 
         const contact_name = page.locator('input[name="contact_1_full_name"]');
         await contact_name.fill('Jane Smith');
@@ -464,7 +526,7 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Edit Form', () => {
         await seed_event_idb(page, mock_event);
         await page.goto(`/idaa/recovery_meetings/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`);
 
-        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 10000 });
+        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 5000 });
 
         // The form's submit button — visible at the bottom of the form
         const save_btn = page.locator('button[type="submit"]').filter({ hasText: /save|submit/i }).first();
@@ -477,7 +539,7 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Edit Form', () => {
         await seed_event_idb(page, mock_event);
         await page.goto(`/idaa/recovery_meetings/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`);
 
-        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 10000 });
+        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 5000 });
 
         // Track API calls
         const api_calls: Array<{ url: string; method: string }> = [];
@@ -520,7 +582,7 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Edit Form', () => {
         await seed_event_idb(page, virtual_event);
         await page.goto(`/idaa/recovery_meetings/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`);
 
-        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 10000 });
+        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 5000 });
 
         // The virtual checkbox (id="virtual") should be present and checked
         const virtual_cb = page.locator('input#virtual');
@@ -542,9 +604,18 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Real Backend Save (Integration)', () =
             console.error(`BROWSER ERROR: ${err.message}`)
         );
         await setup_idaa_auth(page);
-        // pass_through_event_patch=true: only PATCH for this event reaches the real API.
-        // Lookups and GET are still mocked so the form loads instantly from seeded IDB.
-        await setup_api_mocks(page, TEST_EVENT_ID, { pass_through_event_patch: true });
+        // pass_through_event_patch=true: the PATCH reaches the real backend.
+        // pass_through_site_domain=true: the app fetches real credentials from
+        //   dev-api.oneskyit.com so that x-aether-api-key is valid for the PATCH.
+        // pass_through_lookups=true: country/subdivision data comes from the real
+        //   API so the submit handler can resolve subdivision codes to names when
+        //   building location_address_json.  Without this, the mock 2-entry list
+        //   may be missing the address code and cause a body validation error (400).
+        await setup_api_mocks(page, TEST_EVENT_ID, {
+            pass_through_event_patch: true,
+            pass_through_site_domain: true,
+            pass_through_lookups: true
+        });
     });
 
     test('save updated meeting name persists to backend', async ({ page }) => {
@@ -556,8 +627,8 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Real Backend Save (Integration)', () =
 
         // Wait for the form field to be populated from IDB via liveQuery
         const name_input = page.locator('input[name="name"]');
-        await expect(name_input).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15000 });
-        await expect(name_input).not.toHaveValue('', { timeout: 8000 });
+        await expect(name_input).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5000 });
+        await expect(name_input).not.toHaveValue('', { timeout: 5000 });
 
         // Read the current name and append a test marker (idempotent: strip any previous marker first)
         const current_name = await name_input.inputValue();
@@ -575,7 +646,7 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Real Backend Save (Integration)', () =
                 (resp) =>
                     resp.url().includes(`/v3/crud/event/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`) &&
                     resp.request().method() === 'PATCH',
-                { timeout: 15000 }
+                { timeout: 5000 }
             ),
             save_btn.click()
         ]);
@@ -586,3 +657,315 @@ test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Real Backend Save (Integration)', () =
     });
 
 });
+
+// =============================================================================
+// Field save payload verification tests
+// These tests verify that each section of the edit form correctly assembles
+// and sends its fields in the PATCH request body.  They catch silent bugs
+// where a field renders but its value is dropped or mis-keyed on submit.
+// All tests use mocked API responses — no real backend traffic.
+// =============================================================================
+
+test.describe('IDAA Recovery Meetings — Field Save Payload Verification', () => {
+
+    test.beforeEach(async ({ page }) => {
+        page.on('pageerror', (err: Error) =>
+            console.error(`BROWSER ERROR: ${err.message}`)
+        );
+        await setup_idaa_auth(page);
+        // pass_through_lookups: the real API returns 50+ entries for every
+        // lookup table, which naturally satisfies the component's "> 50 entries"
+        // cache-hit threshold. No need for 55-entry mock fixture arrays.
+        // Event PATCH is still intercepted so capture_patch_body can inspect the
+        // payload without actually writing test data to the backend on every run.
+        // pass_through_site_domain: ensures $ae_api gets real credentials so the
+        // SvelteKit load chain completes, ae_acct is populated, and the $effect
+        // sets $idaa_slct.event_id — without it the submit handler does POST
+        // (create) instead of PATCH (update) and capture_patch_body times out.
+        await setup_api_mocks(page, TEST_EVENT_ID, {
+            pass_through_lookups: true,
+            pass_through_site_domain: true
+        });
+    });
+
+    /**
+     * Navigate to the edit form and wait until both the section is visible AND
+     * the liveQuery has populated the form from IDB.
+     *
+     * The form inputs use Svelte 5's one-way `value={$lq__event_obj?.field}`
+     * binding.  If a test fills a field before liveQuery resolves, the next
+     * reactive tick resets the input back to the IDB value — producing wrong or
+     * undefined data in the PATCH body.  Waiting for the name field to have a
+     * non-empty value confirms liveQuery is settled and no further reactive
+     * resets will occur.
+     */
+    async function open_edit_form(page: any): Promise<void> {
+        await page.goto('/');
+        await seed_event_idb(page, mock_event);
+        await page.goto(`/idaa/recovery_meetings/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`);
+        await page.waitForSelector('section.edit__event_obj', { timeout: 5000 });
+        // Wait for liveQuery to have populated the name field before any fills.
+        await page.waitForFunction(
+            () => {
+                const name = document.querySelector('input[name="name"]') as HTMLInputElement | null;
+                return name !== null && name.value.length > 0;
+            },
+            { timeout: 5000 }
+        );
+        // Wait for the country subdivision and country lookup lists to finish loading.
+        // The submit handler resolves address codes (e.g. 'US-IL' → 'Illinois', 'US' →
+        // 'United States') from these lists when building location_address_json.  If
+        // either list is empty at Save time the handler throws a TypeError and no PATCH
+        // is sent.  Both fetches fire at component mount; we wait for each to reach
+        // ≥50 entries in localStorage (which happens in the same .then() as the $state
+        // update, so once localStorage reflects it the in-memory state is also ready).
+        await page.waitForFunction(
+            () => {
+                try {
+                    const sub = localStorage.getItem('lu_country_subdivision_list');
+                    const cty = localStorage.getItem('lu_country_list');
+                    return (
+                        sub !== null && JSON.parse(sub).length > 50 &&
+                        cty !== null && JSON.parse(cty).length > 50
+                    );
+                } catch { return false; }
+            },
+            { timeout: 10000 }
+        );
+        // Wait for the timezone select to have a value.  setup_idaa_auth pre-seeds
+        // lu_time_zone_list in ae_loc so the <select required> always renders (never
+        // the fallback <input required value="">).  The value comes from
+        // $lq__event_obj?.timezone (IDB) or the pre-seeded current_timezone fallback.
+        await page.waitForFunction(
+            () => {
+                const tz = document.querySelector('section.edit__event_obj [name="timezone"]') as HTMLInputElement | HTMLSelectElement | null;
+                return tz !== null && tz.value.length > 0;
+            },
+            { timeout: 5000 }
+        );
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Click the Save button and capture the first PATCH request to the event
+     * endpoint.  Returns the parsed JSON request body.
+     *
+     * We use waitForRequest (not waitForResponse) so we get the outgoing payload
+     * immediately without waiting for the mocked response round-trip.
+     */
+    async function capture_patch_body(page: any): Promise<Record<string, any>> {
+        const req_promise = page.waitForRequest(
+            (r: any) =>
+                r.url().includes(`/v3/crud/event/${TEST_EVENT_ID}`) &&
+                r.method() === 'PATCH',
+            { timeout: 5000 }
+        );
+        await page.locator('button[type="submit"]').first().click();
+        const req = await req_promise;
+        return JSON.parse(req.postData() ?? '{}');
+    }
+
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Section 1 — Meeting Information (name, type)
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    test('name and meeting type are sent in PATCH payload', async ({ page }) => {
+        await open_edit_form(page);
+
+        await page.locator('input[name="name"]').fill('Payload Verification Meeting');
+        await page.selectOption('select[name="type"]', 'Caduceus');
+
+        const body = await capture_patch_body(page);
+
+        expect(body.name, 'name field').toBe('Payload Verification Meeting');
+        expect(body.type, 'type field').toBe('Caduceus');
+    });
+
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Section 2 — How to Attend (physical/virtual flags, address, virtual platform)
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    test('physical and virtual boolean flags are in PATCH payload', async ({ page }) => {
+        await open_edit_form(page);
+
+        // mock_event: physical=true, virtual=false — enable virtual.
+        // Toggles use sr-only checkboxes; click the parent <label> (toggle-chip),
+        // not the hidden input.
+        const virtual_cb    = page.locator('input#virtual');
+        const virtual_label = page.locator('label[for="virtual"]');
+        if (!(await virtual_cb.isChecked())) await virtual_label.click();
+
+        const body = await capture_patch_body(page);
+
+        expect(body.physical, 'physical flag').toBe(true);
+        expect(body.virtual, 'virtual flag').toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    test('address fields are nested inside location_address_json in PATCH payload', async ({ page }) => {
+        // mock_event.physical = true so the address subsection is visible without any interaction
+        await open_edit_form(page);
+
+        await page.locator('input[name="address_name"]').fill('Test Community Hall');
+        await page.locator('input[name="address_line_1"]').fill('100 Test Boulevard');
+        await page.locator('input[name="address_city"]').fill('Madison');
+        await page.locator('input[name="address_postal_code"]').fill('53703');
+
+        const body = await capture_patch_body(page);
+
+        const addr = body.location_address_json;
+        expect(addr, 'location_address_json is present').toBeTruthy();
+        expect(addr.name,        'address_name → .name').toBe('Test Community Hall');
+        expect(addr.line_1,      'address_line_1 → .line_1').toBe('100 Test Boulevard');
+        expect(addr.city,        'address_city → .city').toBe('Madison');
+        expect(addr.postal_code, 'address_postal_code → .postal_code').toBe('53703');
+    });
+
+    test('Zoom virtual platform fields are saved in attend_json', async ({ page }) => {
+        await open_edit_form(page);
+
+        // Enable virtual mode so the virtual subsection appears.
+        // Toggles use sr-only checkboxes; click the parent <label> (toggle-chip).
+        const virtual_cb    = page.locator('input#virtual');
+        const virtual_label = page.locator('label[for="virtual"]');
+        if (!(await virtual_cb.isChecked())) await virtual_label.click();
+
+        // Click the Zoom platform selector button
+        const zoom_btn = page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Zoom' }).first();
+        await expect(zoom_btn).toBeVisible({ timeout: 3000 });
+        await zoom_btn.click();
+
+        // Fill Zoom fields; dispatch change to trigger the URL-builder $effect
+        const meeting_id_input = page.locator('input[name="attend_url_code"]');
+        await expect(meeting_id_input).toBeVisible({ timeout: 3000 });
+        await meeting_id_input.fill('82345678901');
+        await meeting_id_input.dispatchEvent('change');
+
+        const passcode_input = page.locator('input[name="attend_url_passcode"]');
+        await passcode_input.fill('mypassword');
+        await passcode_input.dispatchEvent('change');
+
+        const body = await capture_patch_body(page);
+
+        expect(body.attend_json?.zoom, 'attend_json.zoom is present').toBeTruthy();
+        expect(body.attend_url_code,     'Zoom meeting ID').toBe('82345678901');
+        expect(body.attend_url_passcode, 'Zoom passcode').toBe('mypassword');
+    });
+
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Section 3 — Schedule (pattern, timezone, times, weekdays)
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    test('schedule fields (pattern, timezone, start/end times) are in PATCH payload', async ({ page }) => {
+        await open_edit_form(page);
+
+        await page.selectOption('select[name="recurring_pattern"]', 'monthly');
+
+        // open_edit_form already waits for the subdivision list (> 50), which means
+        // the timezone list has also loaded.  Pick a timezone that differs from
+        // mock_event.timezone ('US/Central') so we test an actual selection change.
+        // We read available options at runtime rather than hardcoding a value that
+        // might not exist in the real timezone table.
+        const tz_select  = page.locator('select[name="timezone"]');
+        const tz_options = tz_select.locator('option');
+        await expect(tz_options).not.toHaveCount(0, { timeout: 5000 });
+        let target_tz = mock_event.timezone; // fallback: keep current value
+        const option_count = await tz_options.count();
+        for (let i = 0; i < Math.min(option_count, 20); i++) {
+            const val = (await tz_options.nth(i).getAttribute('value')) ?? '';
+            if (val && val !== mock_event.timezone) {
+                target_tz = val;
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        await tz_select.selectOption(target_tz);
+
+        await page.locator('input[name="recurring_start_time"]').fill('09:00');
+        await page.locator('input[name="recurring_end_time"]').fill('10:30');
+
+        const body = await capture_patch_body(page);
+
+        expect(body.recurring,            'recurring is hardcoded true').toBe(true);
+        expect(body.recurring_pattern,    'recurring_pattern').toBe('monthly');
+        expect(body.timezone,             'timezone field present in PATCH').toBe(target_tz);
+        expect(body.recurring_start_time, 'start time').toBe('09:00');
+        expect(body.recurring_end_time,   'end time').toBe('10:30');
+    });
+
+    test('all seven weekday checkboxes are individually correct in PATCH payload', async ({ page }) => {
+        await open_edit_form(page);
+
+        // mock_event: only weekday_thursday=true — switch to Sunday + Saturday.
+        // Day-chip checkboxes are sr-only; click the parent <label> for each day.
+        if (await page.locator('input[name="weekday_thursday"]').isChecked()) {
+            await page.locator('label[for="weekday_thursday"]').click();
+        }
+        if (!(await page.locator('input[name="weekday_sunday"]').isChecked())) {
+            await page.locator('label[for="weekday_sunday"]').click();
+        }
+        if (!(await page.locator('input[name="weekday_saturday"]').isChecked())) {
+            await page.locator('label[for="weekday_saturday"]').click();
+        }
+
+        const body = await capture_patch_body(page);
+
+        expect(body.weekday_sunday,    'weekday_sunday').toBe(true);
+        expect(body.weekday_monday,    'weekday_monday').toBe(false);
+        expect(body.weekday_tuesday,   'weekday_tuesday').toBe(false);
+        expect(body.weekday_wednesday, 'weekday_wednesday').toBe(false);
+        expect(body.weekday_thursday,  'weekday_thursday').toBe(false);
+        expect(body.weekday_friday,    'weekday_friday').toBe(false);
+        expect(body.weekday_saturday,  'weekday_saturday').toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Section 4 — Contacts (contact_li_json)
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    test('contact_li_json contains both contact entries in PATCH payload', async ({ page }) => {
+        await open_edit_form(page);
+
+        // Trusted user: contact_1_locked starts false, fields are editable
+        await page.locator('input[name="contact_1_full_name"]').fill('Dr. Alice Carter');
+        await page.locator('input[name="contact_1_email"]').fill('acarter@idaa-test.org');
+        await page.locator('input[name="contact_1_phone_mobile"]').fill('312-555-0001');
+
+        await page.locator('input[name="contact_2_full_name"]').fill('Dr. Bob Lee');
+        await page.locator('input[name="contact_2_email"]').fill('blee@idaa-test.org');
+
+        const body = await capture_patch_body(page);
+
+        expect(Array.isArray(body.contact_li_json), 'contact_li_json is an array').toBe(true);
+        expect(body.contact_li_json[0]?.full_name,    'contact 1 name').toBe('Dr. Alice Carter');
+        expect(body.contact_li_json[0]?.email,        'contact 1 email').toBe('acarter@idaa-test.org');
+        expect(body.contact_li_json[0]?.phone_mobile, 'contact 1 mobile').toBe('312-555-0001');
+        expect(body.contact_li_json[1]?.full_name,    'contact 2 name').toBe('Dr. Bob Lee');
+        expect(body.contact_li_json[1]?.email,        'contact 2 email').toBe('blee@idaa-test.org');
+    });
+
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Section 5 — Admin Options (trusted users only)
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    test('admin fields (status, sort, group, hide, priority) are in PATCH payload', async ({ page }) => {
+        // Admin section is visible because trusted_access=true in test setup
+        await open_edit_form(page);
+
+        await page.locator('input[name="status"]').fill('active');
+        await page.locator('input[name="sort"]').fill('30');
+        await page.locator('input[name="group"]').fill('International');
+
+        // Both are false in mock_event — enable them
+        const hide_cb = page.locator('input[name="hide"]');
+        const priority_cb = page.locator('input[name="priority"]');
+        if (!(await hide_cb.isChecked()))     await hide_cb.click();
+        if (!(await priority_cb.isChecked())) await priority_cb.click();
+
+        const body = await capture_patch_body(page);
+
+        expect(body.status,   'status').toBe('active');
+        expect(body.sort,     'sort is cast to Number').toBe(30);
+        expect(body.group,    'group').toBe('International');
+        expect(body.hide,     'hide').toBe(true);
+        expect(body.priority, 'priority').toBe(true);
+    });
+
+});