diff --git a/ui/src/components/ApprovalCard.tsx b/ui/src/components/ApprovalCard.tsx
index 2ad0ff9a..7fcbf131 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/ApprovalCard.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/ApprovalCard.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 import { CheckCircle2, XCircle, Clock } from "lucide-react";
 import { Link } from "@/lib/router";
-import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
+import { Button, buttonVariants } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Identity } from "./Identity";
 import { approvalLabel, typeIcon, defaultTypeIcon, ApprovalPayloadRenderer } from "./ApprovalPayload";
 import { timeAgo } from "../lib/timeAgo";
 import type { Approval, Agent } from "@paperclipai/shared";
+import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 
 function statusIcon(status: string) {
   if (status === "approved") return <CheckCircle2 className="h-3.5 w-3.5 text-green-600 dark:text-green-400" />;
@@ -96,9 +97,12 @@ export function ApprovalCard({
       {(detailLink || onOpen) ? (
         <div className="mt-3">
           {detailLink ? (
-            <Button variant="ghost" size="sm" className="text-xs px-0" asChild>
-              <Link to={detailLink}>View details</Link>
-            </Button>
+            <Link
+              to={detailLink}
+              className={cn(buttonVariants({ variant: "ghost", size: "sm" }), "px-0 text-xs")}
+            >
+              View details
+            </Link>
           ) : (
             <Button variant="ghost" size="sm" className="text-xs px-0" onClick={onOpen}>
               View details
diff --git a/ui/src/components/ApprovalPayload.test.tsx b/ui/src/components/ApprovalPayload.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..51814483
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/components/ApprovalPayload.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+// @vitest-environment jsdom
+
+import { act } from "react";
+import { createRoot } from "react-dom/client";
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { ApprovalPayloadRenderer, approvalLabel } from "./ApprovalPayload";
+
+// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
+(globalThis as any).IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT = true;
+
+describe("approvalLabel", () => {
+  it("uses payload titles for generic board approvals", () => {
+    expect(
+      approvalLabel("request_board_approval", {
+        title: "Reply with an ASCII frog",
+      }),
+    ).toBe("Board Approval: Reply with an ASCII frog");
+  });
+});
+
+describe("ApprovalPayloadRenderer", () => {
+  let container: HTMLDivElement;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    container = document.createElement("div");
+    document.body.appendChild(container);
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    container.remove();
+  });
+
+  it("renders request_board_approval payload fields without falling back to raw JSON", () => {
+    const root = createRoot(container);
+
+    act(() => {
+      root.render(
+        <ApprovalPayloadRenderer
+          type="request_board_approval"
+          payload={{
+            title: "Reply with an ASCII frog",
+            summary: "Board asked for approval before posting the frog.",
+            recommendedAction: "Approve the frog reply.",
+            nextActionOnApproval: "Post the frog comment on the issue.",
+            proposedComment: "(o)<",
+          }}
+        />,
+      );
+    });
+
+    expect(container.textContent).toContain("Reply with an ASCII frog");
+    expect(container.textContent).toContain("Board asked for approval before posting the frog.");
+    expect(container.textContent).toContain("Approve the frog reply.");
+    expect(container.textContent).toContain("Post the frog comment on the issue.");
+    expect(container.textContent).toContain("(o)<");
+    expect(container.textContent).not.toContain("\"recommendedAction\"");
+
+    act(() => {
+      root.unmount();
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/ui/src/components/ApprovalPayload.tsx b/ui/src/components/ApprovalPayload.tsx
index f3258cca..bc6c06ae 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/ApprovalPayload.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/ApprovalPayload.tsx
@@ -8,11 +8,26 @@ export const typeLabel: Record<string, string> = {
   request_board_approval: "Board Approval",
 };
 
+function firstNonEmptyString(...values: unknown[]): string | null {
+  for (const value of values) {
+    if (typeof value === "string" && value.trim().length > 0) {
+      return value.trim();
+    }
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
 /** Build a contextual label for an approval, e.g. "Hire Agent: Designer" */
 export function approvalLabel(type: string, payload?: Record<string, unknown> | null): string {
   const base = typeLabel[type] ?? type;
-  if (type === "hire_agent" && payload?.name) {
-    return `${base}: ${String(payload.name)}`;
+  const subject = firstNonEmptyString(
+    payload?.title,
+    payload?.name,
+    payload?.summary,
+    payload?.recommendedAction,
+  );
+  if (subject) {
+    return `${base}: ${subject}`;
   }
   return base;
 }
@@ -129,8 +144,39 @@ export function BudgetOverridePayload({ payload }: { payload: Record<string, unk
   );
 }
 
+export function BoardApprovalPayload({ payload }: { payload: Record<string, unknown> }) {
+  return (
+    <div className="mt-3 space-y-2 text-sm">
+      <PayloadField label="Title" value={payload.title} />
+      {!!payload.summary && (
+        <div className="flex items-start gap-2">
+          <span className="text-muted-foreground w-20 sm:w-24 shrink-0 text-xs pt-0.5">Summary</span>
+          <span className="text-muted-foreground">{String(payload.summary)}</span>
+        </div>
+      )}
+      {!!payload.recommendedAction && (
+        <div className="rounded-md bg-muted/40 px-3 py-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+          Recommended: {String(payload.recommendedAction)}
+        </div>
+      )}
+      {!!payload.nextActionOnApproval && (
+        <div className="flex items-start gap-2">
+          <span className="text-muted-foreground w-20 sm:w-24 shrink-0 text-xs pt-0.5">On approval</span>
+          <span>{String(payload.nextActionOnApproval)}</span>
+        </div>
+      )}
+      {!!payload.proposedComment && (
+        <div className="rounded-md bg-muted/40 px-3 py-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground whitespace-pre-wrap font-mono max-h-48 overflow-y-auto">
+          {String(payload.proposedComment)}
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
 export function ApprovalPayloadRenderer({ type, payload }: { type: string; payload: Record<string, unknown> }) {
   if (type === "hire_agent") return <HireAgentPayload payload={payload} />;
   if (type === "budget_override_required") return <BudgetOverridePayload payload={payload} />;
+  if (type === "request_board_approval") return <BoardApprovalPayload payload={payload} />;
   return <CeoStrategyPayload payload={payload} />;
 }
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/IssueDetail.tsx b/ui/src/pages/IssueDetail.tsx
index 63a63938..84e27700 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/IssueDetail.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/pages/IssueDetail.tsx
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ import {
 } from "../lib/optimistic-issue-comments";
 import { useProjectOrder } from "../hooks/useProjectOrder";
 import { relativeTime, cn, formatTokens, visibleRunCostUsd } from "../lib/utils";
-import { InlineEditor } from "../components/InlineEditor";
 import { ApprovalCard } from "../components/ApprovalCard";
+import { InlineEditor } from "../components/InlineEditor";
 import { CommentThread } from "../components/CommentThread";
 import { IssueDocumentsSection } from "../components/IssueDocumentsSection";
 import { IssueProperties } from "../components/IssueProperties";
@@ -56,14 +56,12 @@ import { PluginLauncherOutlet } from "@/plugins/launchers";
 import { Separator } from "@/components/ui/separator";
 import { Popover, PopoverTrigger, PopoverContent } from "@/components/ui/popover";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
-import { Collapsible, CollapsibleContent, CollapsibleTrigger } from "@/components/ui/collapsible";
 import { Sheet, SheetContent, SheetHeader, SheetTitle } from "@/components/ui/sheet";
 import { ScrollArea } from "@/components/ui/scroll-area";
 import { Tabs, TabsContent, TabsList, TabsTrigger } from "@/components/ui/tabs";
 import {
   Activity as ActivityIcon,
   Check,
-  ChevronDown,
   ChevronRight,
   Copy,
   EyeOff,
@@ -303,9 +301,6 @@ export function IssueDetail() {
   const [copied, setCopied] = useState(false);
   const [mobilePropsOpen, setMobilePropsOpen] = useState(false);
   const [detailTab, setDetailTab] = useState("comments");
-  const [secondaryOpen, setSecondaryOpen] = useState({
-    approvals: false,
-  });
   const [pendingApprovalAction, setPendingApprovalAction] = useState<{
     approvalId: string;
     action: "approve" | "reject";
@@ -498,6 +493,13 @@ export function IssueDetail() {
       .filter((i) => i.parentId === issue.id)
       .sort((a, b) => new Date(a.createdAt).getTime() - new Date(b.createdAt).getTime());
   }, [allIssues, issue]);
+  const childIssuesPanelKey = useMemo(
+    () => childIssues.map((child) => `${child.id}:${String(child.updatedAt)}`).join("|"),
+    [childIssues],
+  );
+  const issuePanelKey = issue
+    ? `${issue.id}:${String(issue.updatedAt)}:${childIssuesPanelKey}`
+    : "";
   const openNewSubIssue = useCallback(() => {
     if (!issue) return;
     openNewIssue({
@@ -507,7 +509,7 @@ export function IssueDetail() {
       projectId: issue.projectId ?? undefined,
       goalId: issue.goalId ?? undefined,
     });
-  }, [issue, openNewIssue]);
+  }, [issue?.goalId, issue?.id, issue?.identifier, issue?.projectId, issue?.title, openNewIssue]);
 
   const commentReassignOptions = useMemo(() => {
     const options: Array<{ id: string; label: string; searchText?: string }> = [];
@@ -675,6 +677,9 @@ export function IssueDetail() {
       invalidateIssue();
     },
   });
+  const handleIssuePropertiesUpdate = useCallback((data: Record<string, unknown>) => {
+    updateIssue.mutate(data);
+  }, [updateIssue.mutate]);
 
   const approvalDecision = useMutation({
     mutationFn: async ({ approvalId, action }: { approvalId: string; action: "approve" | "reject" }) => {
@@ -1052,18 +1057,20 @@ export function IssueDetail() {
   }, [issue?.id]); // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (issue) {
-      openPanel(
-        <IssueProperties
-          issue={issue}
-          childIssues={childIssues}
-          onAddSubIssue={openNewSubIssue}
-          onUpdate={(data) => updateIssue.mutate(data)}
-        />
-      );
+    if (!issue) {
+      closePanel();
+      return;
     }
+    openPanel(
+      <IssueProperties
+        issue={issue}
+        childIssues={childIssues}
+        onAddSubIssue={openNewSubIssue}
+        onUpdate={handleIssuePropertiesUpdate}
+      />
+    );
     return () => closePanel();
-  }, [childIssues, closePanel, issue, openNewSubIssue, openPanel, updateIssue]);
+  }, [closePanel, handleIssuePropertiesUpdate, issuePanelKey, openNewSubIssue, openPanel]);
 
   const inboxQuickArchiveArmedRef = useRef(false);
   const canQuickArchiveFromInbox =
@@ -1699,6 +1706,26 @@ export function IssueDetail() {
         </TabsContent>
 
         <TabsContent value="activity">
+          {linkedApprovals && linkedApprovals.length > 0 && (
+            <div className="mb-3 space-y-3">
+              {linkedApprovals.map((approval) => (
+                <ApprovalCard
+                  key={approval.id}
+                  approval={approval}
+                  requesterAgent={approval.requestedByAgentId ? agentMap.get(approval.requestedByAgentId) ?? null : null}
+                  onApprove={() => approvalDecision.mutate({ approvalId: approval.id, action: "approve" })}
+                  onReject={() => approvalDecision.mutate({ approvalId: approval.id, action: "reject" })}
+                  detailLink={`/approvals/${approval.id}`}
+                  isPending={pendingApprovalAction?.approvalId === approval.id}
+                  pendingAction={
+                    pendingApprovalAction?.approvalId === approval.id
+                      ? pendingApprovalAction.action
+                      : null
+                  }
+                />
+              ))}
+            </div>
+          )}
           {linkedRuns && linkedRuns.length > 0 && (
             <div className="mb-3 px-3 py-2 rounded-lg border border-border">
               <div className="text-sm font-medium text-muted-foreground mb-1">Cost Summary</div>
@@ -1754,44 +1781,6 @@ export function IssueDetail() {
         )}
       </Tabs>
 
-      {linkedApprovals && linkedApprovals.length > 0 && (
-        <Collapsible
-          open={secondaryOpen.approvals}
-          onOpenChange={(open) => setSecondaryOpen((prev) => ({ ...prev, approvals: open }))}
-          className="rounded-lg border border-border"
-        >
-          <CollapsibleTrigger className="flex w-full items-center justify-between px-3 py-2 text-left">
-            <span className="text-sm font-medium text-muted-foreground">
-              Linked Approvals ({linkedApprovals.length})
-            </span>
-            <ChevronDown
-              className={cn("h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground transition-transform", secondaryOpen.approvals && "rotate-180")}
-            />
-          </CollapsibleTrigger>
-          <CollapsibleContent>
-            <div className="border-t border-border divide-y divide-border">
-              {linkedApprovals.map((approval) => (
-                <div key={approval.id} className="px-3 py-3">
-                  <ApprovalCard
-                    approval={approval}
-                    requesterAgent={approval.requestedByAgentId ? agentMap.get(approval.requestedByAgentId) ?? null : null}
-                    onApprove={() => approvalDecision.mutate({ approvalId: approval.id, action: "approve" })}
-                    onReject={() => approvalDecision.mutate({ approvalId: approval.id, action: "reject" })}
-                    detailLink={`/approvals/${approval.id}`}
-                    isPending={pendingApprovalAction?.approvalId === approval.id}
-                    pendingAction={
-                      pendingApprovalAction?.approvalId === approval.id
-                        ? pendingApprovalAction.action
-                        : null
-                    }
-                  />
-                </div>
-              ))}
-            </div>
-          </CollapsibleContent>
-        </Collapsible>
-      )}
-
 
       {/* Mobile properties drawer */}
       <Sheet open={mobilePropsOpen} onOpenChange={setMobilePropsOpen}>