diff --git a/__tests__/auth-helpers.test.ts b/__tests__/auth-helpers.test.ts
index b0f8004..adc92c5 100644
--- a/__tests__/auth-helpers.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/auth-helpers.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,44 @@
 import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest'
 import { z } from 'zod'
-import { parseInput } from '@/lib/auth-helpers'
+import {
+  parseInput,
+  getAuthMember,
+  requireMember,
+  requireMemberWithRole,
+  type ServerSupabase,
+} from '@/lib/auth-helpers'
+import { ADMIN_ROLES } from '@/lib/permissions'
+
+/**
+ * Minimal mock of the query the auth helpers issue:
+ *   supabase.auth.getUser()
+ *   supabase.from('space_members').select(...).eq(...).in(...).single()
+ */
+function mockClient(opts: {
+  user?: { id: string } | null
+  member?: Record<string, unknown> | null
+}): ServerSupabase {
+  const chain = {
+    select: () => chain,
+    eq: () => chain,
+    in: () => chain,
+    single: () => Promise.resolve({ data: opts.member ?? null }),
+  }
+  return {
+    auth: { getUser: () => Promise.resolve({ data: { user: opts.user ?? null } }) },
+    from: () => chain,
+  } as unknown as ServerSupabase
+}
+
+const activeMember = (role: string, status = 'current') => ({
+  id: 'm1',
+  space_id: 'space-A',
+  user_id: 'u1',
+  role,
+  status,
+  display_name: 'M',
+  handle: 'm',
+})
 
 describe('parseInput', () => {
   const schema = z.object({
@@ -41,3 +79,66 @@ describe('parseInput', () => {
     }
   })
 })
+
+describe('getAuthMember', () => {
+  it('returns null when there is no authenticated user', async () => {
+    expect(await getAuthMember(mockClient({ user: null }))).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('returns null when the user has no active membership', async () => {
+    expect(await getAuthMember(mockClient({ user: { id: 'u1' }, member: null }))).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('returns the active member for an authenticated user', async () => {
+    const m = await getAuthMember(mockClient({ user: { id: 'u1' }, member: activeMember('member') }))
+    expect(m?.space_id).toBe('space-A')
+    expect(m?.role).toBe('member')
+  })
+})
+
+describe('requireMember', () => {
+  it('errors when unauthenticated', async () => {
+    const r = await requireMember(mockClient({ user: null }))
+    expect(r.ok).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('ok for an active member', async () => {
+    const r = await requireMember(mockClient({ user: { id: 'u1' }, member: activeMember('member') }))
+    expect(r.ok).toBe(true)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('requireMemberWithRole', () => {
+  it('rejects an unverified member even with an admin role (require_approval gate)', async () => {
+    const r = await requireMemberWithRole(
+      mockClient({ user: { id: 'u1' }, member: activeMember('admin', 'unverified') }),
+      ADMIN_ROLES,
+    )
+    expect(r.ok).toBe(false)
+    if (!r.ok) expect(r.error).toMatch(/pending approval/i)
+  })
+
+  it('rejects a current member whose role is not allowed', async () => {
+    const r = await requireMemberWithRole(
+      mockClient({ user: { id: 'u1' }, member: activeMember('member') }),
+      ADMIN_ROLES,
+    )
+    expect(r.ok).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('allows a current admin', async () => {
+    const r = await requireMemberWithRole(
+      mockClient({ user: { id: 'u1' }, member: activeMember('admin') }),
+      ADMIN_ROLES,
+    )
+    expect(r.ok).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('allows a late member to keep their privileged role (dues lapse is not an authz downgrade)', async () => {
+    const r = await requireMemberWithRole(
+      mockClient({ user: { id: 'u1' }, member: activeMember('board', 'late') }),
+      ADMIN_ROLES,
+    )
+    expect(r.ok).toBe(true)
+  })
+})