diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(leads)/leads/exhibit/[exhibit_id]/ae_comp__exhibit_signin.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(leads)/leads/exhibit/[exhibit_id]/ae_comp__exhibit_signin.svelte
index c4dfce02..e70bbf9c 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(leads)/leads/exhibit/[exhibit_id]/ae_comp__exhibit_signin.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(leads)/leads/exhibit/[exhibit_id]/ae_comp__exhibit_signin.svelte
@@ -213,8 +213,13 @@ function complete_signin(key: string, type: string) {
         <button
             type="submit"
             class="btn btn-lg preset-filled-primary shadow-primary-500/20 group w-full font-bold shadow-lg"
-            disabled={status === 'submitting'}>
-            {#if status === 'submitting'}
+            disabled={status === 'submitting' || !$lq__exhibit_obj}>
+            {#if !$lq__exhibit_obj}
+                <!-- Exhibit record still loading from Dexie/API — block submission
+                     until it's ready so handle_signin() doesn't return silently. -->
+                <LoaderCircle size="1.5em" class="mr-2 animate-spin" />
+                Loading...
+            {:else if status === 'submitting'}
                 <LoaderCircle size="1.5em" class="mr-2 animate-spin" />
                 Signing In...
             {:else if status === 'success'}
diff --git a/tests/_helpers/leads_helpers.ts b/tests/_helpers/leads_helpers.ts
index 6f1de89c..c01ff4c9 100644
--- a/tests/_helpers/leads_helpers.ts
+++ b/tests/_helpers/leads_helpers.ts
@@ -350,6 +350,7 @@ export async function attach_leads_routes(
     opts: {
         staff_passcode?: string;
         exhibit_name?: string;
+        exhibit_overrides?: Record<string, unknown>;
         tracking_li?: any[];
         badge_li?: any[];
         event_data_overrides?: Record<string, any>;
@@ -358,6 +359,7 @@ export async function attach_leads_routes(
     const {
         staff_passcode = exhibit_staff_passcode,
         exhibit_name = 'Test Booth — ACME Corp',
+        exhibit_overrides = {} as Record<string, unknown>,
         tracking_li = [],
         badge_li = [minimal_badge()],
         event_data_overrides = {},
@@ -387,7 +389,7 @@ export async function attach_leads_routes(
                 status: 200,
                 contentType: 'application/json',
                 body: JSON.stringify(
-                    minimal_exhibit(exhibit_id, { staff_passcode, name: exhibit_name })
+                    minimal_exhibit(exhibit_id, { staff_passcode, name: exhibit_name, ...exhibit_overrides })
                 ),
             });
         }
@@ -492,6 +494,7 @@ export async function setup_leads_test_page(
         leads_overrides?: Record<string, any>;
         staff_passcode?: string;
         exhibit_name?: string;
+        exhibit_overrides?: Record<string, unknown>;
         tracking_li?: any[];
         badge_li?: any[];
         event_data_overrides?: Record<string, any>;
@@ -499,10 +502,18 @@ export async function setup_leads_test_page(
 ): Promise<void> {
     const { access = {}, auth_kv = {}, leads_overrides = {}, ...route_opts } = opts;
 
+    // Build auth_exhibit_kv with timestamps for ae_leads_loc (the current store).
+    // seed_events_loc also seeds the old ae_events_loc for backwards compatibility,
+    // but is_signed_in now reads from leads_loc (ae_leads_loc) exclusively.
+    const auth_exhibit_kv_with_ts: Record<string, { key: string; type: string; updated_on: string }> = {};
+    for (const [eid, entry] of Object.entries(auth_kv)) {
+        auth_exhibit_kv_with_ts[eid] = { ...entry, updated_on: new Date().toISOString() };
+    }
+
     page.on('pageerror', (err) => console.error(`BROWSER ERROR: ${err.message}`));
     await attach_leads_routes(page, event_id, exhibit_id, route_opts);
     await seed_ae_loc(page, access);
-    await seed_leads_loc(page, leads_overrides);
+    await seed_leads_loc(page, { ...leads_overrides, auth_exhibit_kv: auth_exhibit_kv_with_ts });
     await seed_events_loc(page, auth_kv, leads_overrides);
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/leads_auth.test.ts b/tests/leads_auth.test.ts
index 7c9b33ef..4a4026d2 100644
--- a/tests/leads_auth.test.ts
+++ b/tests/leads_auth.test.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
     setup_leads_test_page,
     attach_leads_routes,
     seed_ae_loc,
+    seed_leads_loc,
     seed_events_loc,
     minimal_exhibit,
 } from './_helpers/leads_helpers';
@@ -219,7 +220,14 @@ test.describe('Leads — Auth Gate', () => {
         // Seed ae_loc (regular shared-passcode user — no manager bypass)
         await seed_ae_loc(page, { allow_access: true });
 
-        // Pre-seed BOTH exhibits as authorized — independent KV entries
+        // Pre-seed BOTH exhibits as authorized — independent KV entries.
+        // Must seed ae_leads_loc (new PersistedState store) in addition to ae_events_loc.
+        await seed_leads_loc(page, {
+            auth_exhibit_kv: {
+                [exhibit_id]:   { key: exhibit_staff_passcode, type: 'shared', updated_on: new Date().toISOString() },
+                [exhibit_id_b]: { key: 'BOOTHB99',            type: 'shared', updated_on: new Date().toISOString() },
+            },
+        });
         await seed_events_loc(page, {
             [exhibit_id]:   { key: exhibit_staff_passcode, type: 'shared' },
             [exhibit_id_b]: { key: 'BOOTHB99',            type: 'shared' },
diff --git a/tests/leads_licensed_signin.test.ts b/tests/leads_licensed_signin.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2f6d426d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/leads_licensed_signin.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,294 @@
+import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
+import { testing_event_id } from './_helpers/env';
+import {
+    testing_exhibit_id,
+    exhibit_staff_passcode,
+    setup_leads_test_page,
+} from './_helpers/leads_helpers';
+
+const event_id = testing_event_id;
+const exhibit_id = testing_exhibit_id;
+const exhibit_url = `/events/${event_id}/leads/exhibit/${exhibit_id}`;
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Test license entries
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/** A licensed staff member whose leads should be tagged with their email. */
+const licensed_user = {
+    full_name: 'Alice Staff',
+    email: 'alice@acmecorp.com',
+    passcode: 'ALICE99',
+};
+
+/** A second licensed user — verifies identity isolation between staff members. */
+const licensed_user_b = {
+    full_name: 'Bob Staff',
+    email: 'bob@acmecorp.com',
+    passcode: 'BOB88',
+};
+
+/**
+ * license_li_json as a JSON string (matches how the API returns it and how
+ * the sign-in component parses it inside handle_signin).
+ */
+const license_li_json = JSON.stringify([licensed_user, licensed_user_b]);
+
+// Exhibit overrides that inject the license list into the mocked API response.
+const exhibit_with_licenses = { license_li_json };
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Helpers
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+const signin_form = (page: Parameters<typeof expect>[0]) =>
+    (page as import('@playwright/test').Page).locator('.exhibit-signin');
+
+const header_action_btn = (page: Parameters<typeof expect>[0]) =>
+    (page as import('@playwright/test').Page).locator(
+        'header button.preset-filled-primary'
+    );
+
+const passcode_input = (page: Parameters<typeof expect>[0]) =>
+    (page as import('@playwright/test').Page).locator(
+        'input[placeholder="Enter shared code..."]'
+    );
+
+const search_mode_seed = { tab_add_mode: { [exhibit_id]: 'search' } };
+
+/**
+ * Navigate to the exhibit URL and wait for lq__exhibit_obj to be live in the
+ * sign-in component before returning.
+ *
+ * The sign-in component's handle_signin() returns early if lq__exhibit_obj is
+ * null. trusted_access causes handle_signin to auto-fill the shared passcode
+ * input once lq__exhibit_obj loads — this is the same readiness signal used
+ * in the shared passcode sign-in tests.
+ *
+ * Note: trusted_access does NOT bypass the auth gate (only manager_access
+ * does), so the sign-in form will still appear for licensed user tests.
+ */
+async function goto_and_wait_for_exhibit_ready(
+    page: import('@playwright/test').Page
+): Promise<void> {
+    await page.goto(exhibit_url);
+    // Auto-fill fires once lq__exhibit_obj is live — this is our readiness signal.
+    await expect(passcode_input(page)).toHaveValue(exhibit_staff_passcode, {
+        timeout: 10_000,
+    });
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Test suite
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+test.describe('Leads — Licensed User Sign-In', () => {
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // 1. Licensed user tab is visible on the sign-in form
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    test('sign-in form has a Licensed User tab', async ({ page }) => {
+        await setup_leads_test_page(page, event_id, exhibit_id, {
+            exhibit_overrides: exhibit_with_licenses,
+            access: { allow_access: true, trusted_access: true },
+        });
+
+        await page.goto(exhibit_url);
+
+        await expect(signin_form(page)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+        await expect(page.locator('button:has-text("Licensed User")')).toBeVisible({
+            timeout: 5_000,
+        });
+    });
+
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // 2. Correct email + passcode signs in successfully
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    test('correct email and passcode signs in — form disappears, lead list shown', async ({ page }) => {
+        await setup_leads_test_page(page, event_id, exhibit_id, {
+            exhibit_overrides: exhibit_with_licenses,
+            access: { allow_access: true, trusted_access: true },
+        });
+
+        await goto_and_wait_for_exhibit_ready(page);
+
+        // Switch to Licensed User tab
+        await page.locator('button:has-text("Licensed User")').click();
+
+        await page.locator('input[type="email"]').fill(licensed_user.email);
+        await page.locator('input[placeholder="Your code..."]').fill(licensed_user.passcode);
+        await page.locator('button[type="submit"]').click();
+
+        // After the 800 ms UX delay + reactivity, form should disappear
+        await expect(signin_form(page)).not.toBeVisible({ timeout: 5_000 });
+        await expect(header_action_btn(page)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5_000 });
+    });
+
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // 3. Wrong passcode shows error, form stays open
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    test('wrong passcode shows error message, form stays visible', async ({ page }) => {
+        await setup_leads_test_page(page, event_id, exhibit_id, {
+            exhibit_overrides: exhibit_with_licenses,
+            access: { allow_access: true, trusted_access: true },
+        });
+
+        await goto_and_wait_for_exhibit_ready(page);
+
+        await page.locator('button:has-text("Licensed User")').click();
+        await page.locator('input[type="email"]').fill(licensed_user.email);
+        await page.locator('input[placeholder="Your code..."]').fill('WRONGCODE');
+        await page.locator('button[type="submit"]').click();
+
+        await expect(
+            page.locator('text=Invalid email or personal passcode')
+        ).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5_000 });
+        await expect(signin_form(page)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 3_000 });
+        await expect(header_action_btn(page)).not.toBeVisible();
+    });
+
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // 4. Unknown email shows error, form stays open
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    test('unknown email shows error message, form stays visible', async ({ page }) => {
+        await setup_leads_test_page(page, event_id, exhibit_id, {
+            exhibit_overrides: exhibit_with_licenses,
+            access: { allow_access: true, trusted_access: true },
+        });
+
+        await goto_and_wait_for_exhibit_ready(page);
+
+        await page.locator('button:has-text("Licensed User")').click();
+        await page.locator('input[type="email"]').fill('unknown@notregistered.com');
+        await page.locator('input[placeholder="Your code..."]').fill('ANYCODE');
+        await page.locator('button[type="submit"]').click();
+
+        await expect(
+            page.locator('text=Invalid email or personal passcode')
+        ).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5_000 });
+        await expect(signin_form(page)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 3_000 });
+    });
+
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // 5. Licensed user captures a lead — external_person_id = their email
+    //
+    // This is the core business rule: every lead captured by a licensed user
+    // must be tagged with their email so "My Leads" filtering works per staff
+    // member. The POST body is inspected directly to verify the identity field.
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    test('lead captured by licensed user is tagged with their email address', async ({ page }) => {
+        await setup_leads_test_page(page, event_id, exhibit_id, {
+            exhibit_overrides: exhibit_with_licenses,
+            access: { allow_access: true, trusted_access: true },
+            leads_overrides: search_mode_seed,
+        });
+
+        await goto_and_wait_for_exhibit_ready(page);
+
+        // Sign in as licensed user
+        await page.locator('button:has-text("Licensed User")').click();
+        await page.locator('input[type="email"]').fill(licensed_user.email);
+        await page.locator('input[placeholder="Your code..."]').fill(licensed_user.passcode);
+        await page.locator('button[type="submit"]').click();
+
+        await expect(signin_form(page)).not.toBeVisible({ timeout: 5_000 });
+
+        // Navigate to Add Lead tab
+        await header_action_btn(page).click();
+
+        const search_input = page.locator(
+            'input[placeholder="Attendee name, email, or badge ID..."]'
+        );
+        await expect(search_input).toBeVisible({ timeout: 8_000 });
+        await search_input.fill('Scott');
+        await page.locator('button:has-text("Search")').click();
+        await expect(page.locator('text=Scott Idem')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 8_000 });
+
+        const create_promise = page.waitForRequest(
+            (r) =>
+                r.url().includes('event_exhibit_tracking') &&
+                r.method() === 'POST',
+            { timeout: 5_000 }
+        );
+
+        await page.locator('.results-list button.preset-filled-success').click();
+
+        const create_req = await create_promise;
+        const body = JSON.parse(create_req.postData() ?? '{}');
+
+        // The lead must be tagged with the licensed user's email, not 'shared_passcode'
+        expect(body.external_person_id).toBe(licensed_user.email);
+        expect(body.group).toBe(licensed_user.email);
+    });
+
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // 6. Two different licensed users get different external_person_id values
+    //
+    // Regression guard: Bob's leads must be tagged with his email, not Alice's
+    // and not 'shared_passcode'.
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    test('different licensed users are tagged with their own email addresses', async ({ page }) => {
+        await setup_leads_test_page(page, event_id, exhibit_id, {
+            exhibit_overrides: exhibit_with_licenses,
+            access: { allow_access: true, trusted_access: true },
+            leads_overrides: search_mode_seed,
+        });
+
+        await goto_and_wait_for_exhibit_ready(page);
+
+        // Sign in as Bob (the second licensed user)
+        await page.locator('button:has-text("Licensed User")').click();
+        await page.locator('input[type="email"]').fill(licensed_user_b.email);
+        await page.locator('input[placeholder="Your code..."]').fill(licensed_user_b.passcode);
+        await page.locator('button[type="submit"]').click();
+
+        await expect(signin_form(page)).not.toBeVisible({ timeout: 5_000 });
+
+        await header_action_btn(page).click();
+
+        const search_input = page.locator(
+            'input[placeholder="Attendee name, email, or badge ID..."]'
+        );
+        await expect(search_input).toBeVisible({ timeout: 8_000 });
+        await search_input.fill('Scott');
+        await page.locator('button:has-text("Search")').click();
+        await expect(page.locator('text=Scott Idem')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 8_000 });
+
+        const create_promise = page.waitForRequest(
+            (r) =>
+                r.url().includes('event_exhibit_tracking') &&
+                r.method() === 'POST',
+            { timeout: 5_000 }
+        );
+
+        await page.locator('.results-list button.preset-filled-success').click();
+
+        const create_req = await create_promise;
+        const body = JSON.parse(create_req.postData() ?? '{}');
+
+        // Must be Bob's email, not Alice's and not 'shared_passcode'
+        expect(body.external_person_id).toBe(licensed_user_b.email);
+        expect(body.external_person_id).not.toBe(licensed_user.email);
+        expect(body.external_person_id).not.toBe('shared_passcode');
+    });
+
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // 7. Pre-seeded licensed auth skips sign-in (returning user)
+    //
+    // A returning user whose session is already in auth_exhibit_kv with
+    // type='licensed' should see the lead list directly — no sign-in form.
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+    test('pre-seeded licensed auth skips sign-in form', async ({ page }) => {
+        await setup_leads_test_page(page, event_id, exhibit_id, {
+            exhibit_overrides: exhibit_with_licenses,
+            auth_kv: {
+                // Simulate a returning session: already signed in as Alice
+                [exhibit_id]: { key: licensed_user.email, type: 'licensed' },
+            },
+        });
+
+        await page.goto(exhibit_url);
+
+        await expect(signin_form(page)).not.toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+        await expect(header_action_btn(page)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+    });
+});