diff --git a/scripts/generate_spreadsheet_programme_workflow_seed.py b/scripts/generate_spreadsheet_programme_workflow_seed.py
index 8a3fc5ede..3bfcfe3b3 100644
--- a/scripts/generate_spreadsheet_programme_workflow_seed.py
+++ b/scripts/generate_spreadsheet_programme_workflow_seed.py
@@ -1594,7 +1594,7 @@ def build_bundle() -> dict[str, object]:
     return {
         "family_id": "spreadsheet_programme_representation_workflow_seed_bundle",
         "schema_version": "repo_seed_workflow_bundle.v1",
-        "seed_version": "19",
+        "seed_version": "20",
         "source_tag": "JVNAUTOSCI-2592",
         "managed_by": "spreadsheet_programme_workflow_vontology_service",
         "processing_authority_fingerprint": authority_fingerprint,
diff --git a/src/backend/services/workflow_repo_seed_bootstrap.py b/src/backend/services/workflow_repo_seed_bootstrap.py
index 0e7da40c7..7f42ed95a 100644
--- a/src/backend/services/workflow_repo_seed_bootstrap.py
+++ b/src/backend/services/workflow_repo_seed_bootstrap.py
@@ -685,6 +685,7 @@ def _stable_state_metadata_subset(state: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
         "writes_context_keys",
         "tool_output_context_mappings",
         "subworkflow_contract",
+        "retry_policy",
         "mutation_authority",
     ):
         value = metadata.get(key)
diff --git a/src/backend/workflows/repo_seed_bundles/kr_materialisation_workflow_seed_bundle.json b/src/backend/workflows/repo_seed_bundles/kr_materialisation_workflow_seed_bundle.json
index 80a89fcdd..fd14ba356 100644
--- a/src/backend/workflows/repo_seed_bundles/kr_materialisation_workflow_seed_bundle.json
+++ b/src/backend/workflows/repo_seed_bundles/kr_materialisation_workflow_seed_bundle.json
@@ -2,7 +2,14 @@
   "family_id": "#V#kr_design_materialisation_workflow_family",
   "managed_by": "kr_materialisation_workflow_vontology_service",
   "schema_version": "repo_seed_workflow_bundle.v1",
-  "seed_version": "6",
+  "seed_version": "7",
+  "known_legacy_authority_payload_sha256_by_seed_version": {
+    "#V#kr_design_concept_materialisation_item_workflow": {
+      "6": [
+        "c027e848fe7860016bdc91fd1efa5809c3cfb57e667eb021bc638d1cfb34d8d8"
+      ]
+    }
+  },
   "source_tag": "JVNAUTOSCI-2271",
   "supported_action_ids": [
     "llm.action",
@@ -746,8 +753,9 @@
             "on_failure_state": "summarise_blocker",
             "retry_policy": {
               "backoff_policy": "fixed",
-              "delay_ms": 1000,
+              "initial_delay_ms": 1000,
               "max_attempts": 2,
+              "max_delay_ms": 1000,
               "retry_on_outcomes": [
                 "failure"
               ],
@@ -755,18 +763,6 @@
             },
             "state_id": "read_back_concept",
             "static_input_bindings": [
-              [
-                "include_relations_any_arg",
-                true
-              ],
-              [
-                "include_text_relations_arg1",
-                true
-              ],
-              [
-                "limit",
-                40
-              ],
               [
                 "tool_name",
                 "fetch_concept"
@@ -804,8 +800,9 @@
             "on_failure_state": "summarise_blocker",
             "retry_policy": {
               "backoff_policy": "fixed",
-              "delay_ms": 1000,
+              "initial_delay_ms": 1000,
               "max_attempts": 2,
+              "max_delay_ms": 1000,
               "retry_on_outcomes": [
                 "failure"
               ],
@@ -1211,16 +1208,18 @@
             "execution_mode": "deterministic",
             "next_state": "read_back_target",
             "on_failure_state": "summarise_blocker",
+            "retry_policy": {
+              "backoff_policy": "fixed",
+              "initial_delay_ms": 1000,
+              "max_attempts": 2,
+              "max_delay_ms": 1000,
+              "retry_on_outcomes": [
+                "failure"
+              ],
+              "schema_version": "workflow_step_retry_policy.v1"
+            },
             "state_id": "read_back_source",
             "static_input_bindings": [
-              [
-                "include_relations_any_arg",
-                true
-              ],
-              [
-                "limit",
-                40
-              ],
               [
                 "tool_name",
                 "fetch_concept"
@@ -1256,16 +1255,18 @@
             "execution_mode": "deterministic",
             "next_state": "emit_relationship_payload",
             "on_failure_state": "summarise_blocker",
+            "retry_policy": {
+              "backoff_policy": "fixed",
+              "initial_delay_ms": 1000,
+              "max_attempts": 2,
+              "max_delay_ms": 1000,
+              "retry_on_outcomes": [
+                "failure"
+              ],
+              "schema_version": "workflow_step_retry_policy.v1"
+            },
             "state_id": "read_back_target",
             "static_input_bindings": [
-              [
-                "include_relations_any_arg",
-                true
-              ],
-              [
-                "limit",
-                40
-              ],
               [
                 "tool_name",
                 "fetch_concept"
diff --git a/src/backend/workflows/repo_seed_bundles/spreadsheet_programme_representation_workflow_seed_bundle.json b/src/backend/workflows/repo_seed_bundles/spreadsheet_programme_representation_workflow_seed_bundle.json
index 365edcdfd..30997417d 100644
--- a/src/backend/workflows/repo_seed_bundles/spreadsheet_programme_representation_workflow_seed_bundle.json
+++ b/src/backend/workflows/repo_seed_bundles/spreadsheet_programme_representation_workflow_seed_bundle.json
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@
   "managed_by": "spreadsheet_programme_workflow_vontology_service",
   "processing_authority_dependencies": {
     "kr_materialisation_workflow_seed_bundle": {
-      "canonical_payload_sha256": "sha256:330476eb8e85bc0ea4aeca0c7bf844968495c8c1018f52b5097a96cd68fd8c0a",
+      "canonical_payload_sha256": "sha256:9b476fe39cd6595890adb83ab80480ada00329bbd2461b693b453cdf10e90536",
       "family_id": "#V#kr_design_materialisation_workflow_family",
-      "seed_version": "6"
+      "seed_version": "7"
     }
   },
-  "processing_authority_fingerprint": "sha256:7ecf13bbdfa9a9a95f28eefc3634fad91cc5c7498aa0aa84b6763ab965c46267",
+  "processing_authority_fingerprint": "sha256:3f7d250eec0d520b2658d63493285776c21c123ccec3676e4eb561217a1c4f60",
   "schema_version": "repo_seed_workflow_bundle.v1",
-  "seed_version": "19",
+  "seed_version": "20",
   "source_tag": "JVNAUTOSCI-2592",
   "support_concepts": [
     {
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@
               },
               {
                 "key": "processing_authority_fingerprint",
-                "value": "sha256:7ecf13bbdfa9a9a95f28eefc3634fad91cc5c7498aa0aa84b6763ab965c46267"
+                "value": "sha256:3f7d250eec0d520b2658d63493285776c21c123ccec3676e4eb561217a1c4f60"
               }
             ],
             "tool_output_mapping_specs": [
@@ -702,7 +702,7 @@
               },
               {
                 "key": "processing_authority_fingerprint",
-                "value": "sha256:7ecf13bbdfa9a9a95f28eefc3634fad91cc5c7498aa0aa84b6763ab965c46267"
+                "value": "sha256:3f7d250eec0d520b2658d63493285776c21c123ccec3676e4eb561217a1c4f60"
               }
             ],
             "tool_output_mapping_specs": [
@@ -776,7 +776,7 @@
               },
               {
                 "key": "processing_authority_fingerprint",
-                "value": "sha256:7ecf13bbdfa9a9a95f28eefc3634fad91cc5c7498aa0aa84b6763ab965c46267"
+                "value": "sha256:3f7d250eec0d520b2658d63493285776c21c123ccec3676e4eb561217a1c4f60"
               }
             ],
             "tool_output_mapping_specs": [
@@ -1234,7 +1234,7 @@
               },
               {
                 "key": "processing_authority_fingerprint",
-                "value": "sha256:7ecf13bbdfa9a9a95f28eefc3634fad91cc5c7498aa0aa84b6763ab965c46267"
+                "value": "sha256:3f7d250eec0d520b2658d63493285776c21c123ccec3676e4eb561217a1c4f60"
               }
             ],
             "tool_output_mapping_specs": [
@@ -1557,7 +1557,7 @@
               },
               {
                 "key": "processing_authority_fingerprint",
-                "value": "sha256:7ecf13bbdfa9a9a95f28eefc3634fad91cc5c7498aa0aa84b6763ab965c46267"
+                "value": "sha256:3f7d250eec0d520b2658d63493285776c21c123ccec3676e4eb561217a1c4f60"
               }
             ],
             "tool_output_mapping_specs": [
@@ -1625,7 +1625,7 @@
               },
               {
                 "key": "processing_authority_fingerprint",
-                "value": "sha256:7ecf13bbdfa9a9a95f28eefc3634fad91cc5c7498aa0aa84b6763ab965c46267"
+                "value": "sha256:3f7d250eec0d520b2658d63493285776c21c123ccec3676e4eb561217a1c4f60"
               }
             ],
             "tool_output_mapping_specs": [
diff --git a/src/backend/workflows/workflow_repo_seed_export_service.py b/src/backend/workflows/workflow_repo_seed_export_service.py
index d405b6ecb..3f6620253 100644
--- a/src/backend/workflows/workflow_repo_seed_export_service.py
+++ b/src/backend/workflows/workflow_repo_seed_export_service.py
@@ -493,6 +493,9 @@ def _build_publication_spec_payload_from_definition(
                     "on_true_state": on_true_state,
                     "on_unknown_state": on_unknown_state,
                     "prompt_concept_ids": prompt_concept_ids,
+                    "retry_policy": _stable_json_like(
+                        runtime_details.retry_policy
+                    ),
                     "state_id": state_id,
                     "static_input_bindings": static_input_bindings,
                     "tool_output_context_mappings": [],
diff --git a/tests/backend/test_kr_materialisation_workflow_vontology_service.py b/tests/backend/test_kr_materialisation_workflow_vontology_service.py
index 2f2aaef86..7708c6c0a 100644
--- a/tests/backend/test_kr_materialisation_workflow_vontology_service.py
+++ b/tests/backend/test_kr_materialisation_workflow_vontology_service.py
@@ -14,12 +14,17 @@
 from src.backend.workflows.durable.control_flow_actions import (
     register_control_flow_actions,
 )
+from src.backend.workflows.engine import _normalise_retry_policy_spec
 from src.backend.workflows.execution_contracts import (
     WORKFLOW_CONTROL_ACTION_CONTEXT_SET_ID,
 )
 from src.backend.workflows.metadata_validation import (
     validate_state_metadata_post_action,
 )
+from src.backend.workflows import (
+    workflow_concept_authority_service as authority_service,
+)
+from src.backend.workflows import workflow_repo_seed_export_service as export_service
 
 _PROJECT_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
 _SEED_BUNDLE_PATH = (
@@ -161,7 +166,14 @@ def test_kr_prompt_seed_assets_hold_operational_prompt_content() -> None:
 
 def test_kr_seed_applies_optional_guard_before_each_write_phase() -> None:
     bundle = json.loads(_SEED_BUNDLE_PATH.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
-    assert bundle["seed_version"] == "6"
+    assert bundle["seed_version"] == "7"
+    assert bundle["known_legacy_authority_payload_sha256_by_seed_version"] == {
+        mod.KR_DESIGN_CONCEPT_MATERIALISATION_ITEM_WORKFLOW_ID: {
+            "6": [
+                "c027e848fe7860016bdc91fd1efa5809c3cfb57e667eb021bc638d1cfb34d8d8"
+            ]
+        }
+    }
     workflow = next(
         row
         for row in bundle["workflows"]
@@ -241,8 +253,9 @@ def test_kr_seed_applies_optional_guard_before_each_write_phase() -> None:
     assert description_outputs["kr_description_text_value_id"] == "text_value_id"
     expected_readback_retry = {
         "backoff_policy": "fixed",
-        "delay_ms": 1000,
+        "initial_delay_ms": 1000,
         "max_attempts": 2,
+        "max_delay_ms": 1000,
         "retry_on_outcomes": ["failure"],
         "schema_version": "workflow_step_retry_policy.v1",
     }
@@ -254,6 +267,23 @@ def test_kr_seed_applies_optional_guard_before_each_write_phase() -> None:
         concept_item_states["read_back_text_relations"]["retry_policy"]
         == expected_readback_retry
     )
+    relationship_item = next(
+        row
+        for row in bundle["workflows"]
+        if row["workflow_id"] == mod.KR_DESIGN_RELATIONSHIP_ASSERTION_ITEM_WORKFLOW_ID
+    )
+    relationship_item_states = {
+        row["state_id"]: row
+        for row in relationship_item["publication_spec"]["steps"]
+    }
+    assert (
+        relationship_item_states["read_back_source"]["retry_policy"]
+        == expected_readback_retry
+    )
+    assert (
+        relationship_item_states["read_back_target"]["retry_policy"]
+        == expected_readback_retry
+    )
     concept_iteration_bindings = dict(
         states["materialise_concepts"]["static_input_bindings"]
     )
@@ -307,6 +337,87 @@ def test_kr_seed_suppresses_event_fan_out_only_for_owned_mutations() -> None:
     }
 
 
+def test_kr_readbacks_avoid_expensive_relation_expansion() -> None:
+    bundle = json.loads(_SEED_BUNDLE_PATH.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    concept_readback = _publication_step(
+        bundle,
+        workflow_id=mod.KR_DESIGN_CONCEPT_MATERIALISATION_ITEM_WORKFLOW_ID,
+        state_id="read_back_concept",
+    )
+    text_readback = _publication_step(
+        bundle,
+        workflow_id=mod.KR_DESIGN_CONCEPT_MATERIALISATION_ITEM_WORKFLOW_ID,
+        state_id="read_back_text_relations",
+    )
+
+    assert dict(concept_readback["static_input_bindings"]) == {
+        "tool_name": "fetch_concept"
+    }
+    assert {
+        mapping["tool_output_field"]
+        for mapping in concept_readback["tool_output_mapping_specs"]
+    } == {"concept_id", "relationships"}
+    assert concept_readback["next_state"] == "read_back_text_relations"
+    assert dict(text_readback["static_input_bindings"]) == {
+        "language": "en-NZ",
+        "limit": 10,
+        "predicate": "hasDescription",
+        "tool_name": "get_text_relations",
+    }
+    for state_id in ("read_back_source", "read_back_target"):
+        relationship_readback = _publication_step(
+            bundle,
+            workflow_id=mod.KR_DESIGN_RELATIONSHIP_ASSERTION_ITEM_WORKFLOW_ID,
+            state_id=state_id,
+        )
+        assert dict(relationship_readback["static_input_bindings"]) == {
+            "tool_name": "fetch_concept"
+        }
+        assert {
+            mapping["tool_output_field"]
+            for mapping in relationship_readback["tool_output_mapping_specs"]
+        } == {"concept_id", "relationships"}
+
+
+def test_kr_retry_policy_round_trips_in_canonical_loader_shape() -> None:
+    raw_bundle = json.loads(_SEED_BUNDLE_PATH.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    bundle = authority_service.load_repo_seed_workflow_bundle(_SEED_BUNDLE_PATH)
+    readback_states_by_workflow = {
+        mod.KR_DESIGN_CONCEPT_MATERIALISATION_ITEM_WORKFLOW_ID: (
+            "read_back_concept",
+            "read_back_text_relations",
+        ),
+        mod.KR_DESIGN_RELATIONSHIP_ASSERTION_ITEM_WORKFLOW_ID: (
+            "read_back_source",
+            "read_back_target",
+        ),
+    }
+
+    for workflow_id, state_ids in readback_states_by_workflow.items():
+        publication_spec = bundle["publication_specs"][workflow_id]
+        definition = authority_service._build_definition_from_publication_spec(
+            workflow_id=workflow_id,
+            spec=publication_spec,
+        )
+        exported = export_service._build_publication_spec_payload_from_definition(
+            workflow_id=workflow_id,
+            definition=definition,
+        )
+        exported_steps = {step["state_id"]: step for step in exported["steps"]}
+
+        for state_id in state_ids:
+            raw_policy = _publication_step(
+                raw_bundle,
+                workflow_id=workflow_id,
+                state_id=state_id,
+            )["retry_policy"]
+            parsed_policy = definition.states[state_id].metadata["retry_policy"]
+            canonical_policy = _normalise_retry_policy_spec(parsed_policy)
+            assert raw_policy == canonical_policy
+            assert parsed_policy == canonical_policy
+            assert exported_steps[state_id]["retry_policy"] == canonical_policy
+
+
 def test_kr_seed_bundle_validates_as_workflow_contracts() -> None:
     report = mod.validate_kr_materialisation_seed_bundle()
 
diff --git a/tests/backend/test_spreadsheet_programme_workflow_vontology_service.py b/tests/backend/test_spreadsheet_programme_workflow_vontology_service.py
index 846d86cb0..bd9dff5d1 100644
--- a/tests/backend/test_spreadsheet_programme_workflow_vontology_service.py
+++ b/tests/backend/test_spreadsheet_programme_workflow_vontology_service.py
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ def test_processing_authority_fingerprint_tracks_exact_kr_dependency(
     from scripts import generate_spreadsheet_programme_workflow_seed as generator
 
     baseline = generator.build_bundle()
-    assert baseline["seed_version"] == "19"
+    assert baseline["seed_version"] == "20"
     baseline_dependency = baseline["processing_authority_dependencies"][
         "kr_materialisation_workflow_seed_bundle"
     ]
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ def test_processing_authority_fingerprint_tracks_exact_kr_dependency(
     )
     assert baseline_dependency["family_id"] == source_payload["family_id"]
     assert baseline_dependency["seed_version"] == source_payload["seed_version"]
-    assert baseline_dependency["seed_version"] == "6"
+    assert baseline_dependency["seed_version"] == "7"
     assert baseline_dependency["canonical_payload_sha256"].startswith("sha256:")
 
     changed_payload = dict(source_payload)
diff --git a/tests/backend/test_workflow_repo_seed_affordances.py b/tests/backend/test_workflow_repo_seed_affordances.py
index d56128282..d23d8eb25 100644
--- a/tests/backend/test_workflow_repo_seed_affordances.py
+++ b/tests/backend/test_workflow_repo_seed_affordances.py
@@ -50,6 +50,44 @@ def test_repo_workflow_seed_bundles_declare_seed_version() -> None:
     assert missing == []
 
 
+def test_materialisation_comparison_detects_missing_step_retry_policy() -> None:
+    retry_policy = {
+        "schema_version": "workflow_step_retry_policy.v1",
+        "max_attempts": 2,
+        "backoff_policy": "fixed",
+        "initial_delay_ms": 1000,
+        "max_delay_ms": 1000,
+        "retry_on_outcomes": ["failure"],
+    }
+    expected_step = authority_service._CanonicalStepPublicationSpec(
+        state_id="read_back",
+        action_id="workflow_mcp.invoke_tool",
+        retry_policy=retry_policy,
+    )
+    expected_spec = authority_service._CanonicalWorkflowPublicationSpec(
+        initial_state="read_back",
+        steps=(expected_step,),
+    )
+    live_without_retry = authority_service._build_definition_from_publication_spec(
+        workflow_id="#V#retry_drift_workflow",
+        spec=authority_service._CanonicalWorkflowPublicationSpec(
+            initial_state="read_back",
+            steps=(
+                authority_service._CanonicalStepPublicationSpec(
+                    state_id="read_back",
+                    action_id="workflow_mcp.invoke_tool",
+                ),
+            ),
+        ),
+    )
+
+    assert not seed_bootstrap._materialisation_matches_publication_spec(
+        loaded_definition=live_without_retry,
+        workflow_id="#V#retry_drift_workflow",
+        publication_spec=expected_spec,
+    )
+
+
 def test_support_concepts_materialise_relationships_and_text_relations(
     monkeypatch,
 ) -> None:
@@ -721,7 +759,7 @@ def test_equal_repo_seed_version_preserves_altered_live_authority(
     assert invalidations == []
 
 
-def test_repo_seed_newer_version_refreshes_current_materialisation_metadata(
+def test_repo_seed_newer_version_accepts_known_legacy_digest_with_stale_marker_sha(
     monkeypatch,
 ) -> None:
     bundle = {
@@ -746,9 +784,14 @@ def test_repo_seed_newer_version_refreshes_current_materialisation_metadata(
     }
     legacy_payload = {"authority": "reviewed-v1"}
     target_payload = {"authority": "target-v2"}
+    legacy_payload_sha256 = seed_bootstrap._stable_payload_sha256(legacy_payload)
+    stale_marker_sha256 = seed_bootstrap._stable_payload_sha256(
+        {"authority": "old-exporter-projection-of-reviewed-v1"}
+    )
+    assert stale_marker_sha256 != legacy_payload_sha256
     bundle["known_legacy_authority_payload_sha256_by_seed_version"] = {
         "#V#test_workflow": {
-            "1": [seed_bootstrap._stable_payload_sha256(legacy_payload)]
+            "1": [legacy_payload_sha256]
         }
     }
     live_state = {"payload": legacy_payload}
@@ -765,7 +808,10 @@ def test_repo_seed_newer_version_refreshes_current_materialisation_metadata(
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         seed_bootstrap,
         "_load_workflow_repo_seed_version_marker",
-        lambda _workflow_id: {"seed_version": "1"},
+        lambda _workflow_id: {
+            "seed_version": "1",
+            "authority_payload_sha256": stale_marker_sha256,
+        },
     )
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         seed_bootstrap,
@@ -888,6 +934,13 @@ def _publish_with_context_capture(**kwargs):
     assert result["repo_seed_version_gate"]["refresh_workflow_ids"] == [
         "#V#test_workflow"
     ]
+    adjudication = result["repo_seed_version_gate"][
+        "authority_adjudication_by_workflow"
+    ]["#V#test_workflow"]
+    assert adjudication["reason"] == "exact_reviewed_legacy_migration"
+    assert adjudication["publication_authorised"] is True
+    assert adjudication["exact_reviewed_source"] is True
+    assert adjudication["observed_authority_payload_sha256"] == legacy_payload_sha256
     assert publications
     assert publications[0]["validate_after_publish"] is False
     assert publications[0]["event_workflow_integration"] == "0"
diff --git a/tests/backend/test_workflow_repo_seed_export_service.py b/tests/backend/test_workflow_repo_seed_export_service.py
index d845212ca..2064f0493 100644
--- a/tests/backend/test_workflow_repo_seed_export_service.py
+++ b/tests/backend/test_workflow_repo_seed_export_service.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import json
 from pathlib import Path
+from types import SimpleNamespace
 
 from src.backend.workflows import workflow_repo_seed_export_service as export_service
 
@@ -83,3 +84,40 @@ def _unexpected_loader(_asset_path):
             }
         ],
     }
+
+
+def test_publication_spec_export_preserves_step_retry_policy() -> None:
+    retry_policy = {
+        "schema_version": "workflow_step_retry_policy.v1",
+        "max_attempts": 2,
+        "backoff_policy": "fixed",
+        "initial_delay_ms": 1000,
+        "max_delay_ms": 1000,
+        "retry_on_outcomes": ["failure"],
+    }
+    definition = SimpleNamespace(
+        initial_state="read_back",
+        states={
+            "read_back": SimpleNamespace(
+                actions=(
+                    SimpleNamespace(
+                        action_id="workflow_mcp.invoke_tool",
+                        contract_concept_id=None,
+                        execution_mode="deterministic",
+                        llm_policy=None,
+                        validation_policy=None,
+                        inputs={"tool_name": "fetch_concept"},
+                    ),
+                ),
+                transitions=(),
+                metadata={"retry_policy": retry_policy},
+            )
+        },
+    )
+
+    payload = export_service._build_publication_spec_payload_from_definition(
+        workflow_id="#V#retry_export_workflow",
+        definition=definition,
+    )
+
+    assert payload["steps"][0]["retry_policy"] == retry_policy