diff --git a/tests/unit/gui/test_beamline_state_panel.py b/tests/unit/gui/test_beamline_state_panel.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1c42d411
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/gui/test_beamline_state_panel.py
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+from aarecommon.models.models import BeamlineStateEnum
+from PySide6.QtCore import Qt
+
+from aare.gui.panels.beamline_state_panel import BeamlineStatePanel
+
+
+def _panel(qtbot):
+    panel = BeamlineStatePanel()
+    qtbot.addWidget(panel)
+    return panel
+
+
+def test_availability_from_maintenance(qtbot):
+    panel = _panel(qtbot)
+    panel.set_current_state(BeamlineStateEnum.Maintenance)
+    assert panel._available_targets() == frozenset({BeamlineStateEnum.SampleExchange})
+
+
+def test_availability_is_union_of_routes_and_menu_shortcuts(qtbot):
+    panel = _panel(qtbot)
+    panel.set_current_state(BeamlineStateEnum.SampleAlignment)
+    targets = panel._available_targets()
+    assert BeamlineStateEnum.FluxMeasurement in targets  # one-hop route
+    assert BeamlineStateEnum.SampleExchange in targets  # status-bar shortcut
+    assert BeamlineStateEnum.XtalSnapshot not in targets  # two hops away
+
+
+def test_no_targets_while_moving_or_unknown(qtbot):
+    panel = _panel(qtbot)
+    panel.set_current_state(None)
+    assert panel._available_targets() == frozenset()
+    panel.set_current_state(BeamlineStateEnum.Moving)
+    assert panel._available_targets() == frozenset()
+
+
+def test_emit_gated_by_availability(qtbot):
+    panel = _panel(qtbot)
+    panel.set_current_state(BeamlineStateEnum.Maintenance)
+    with qtbot.waitSignal(panel.sample_exchange, timeout=1000):
+        panel._emit_for_state(BeamlineStateEnum.SampleExchange)
+    with qtbot.assertNotEmitted(panel.flux_measurement):
+        panel._emit_for_state(BeamlineStateEnum.FluxMeasurement)
+
+
+def test_active_maintenance_is_red_and_bold(qtbot):
+    panel = _panel(qtbot)
+    panel.set_current_state(BeamlineStateEnum.Maintenance)
+    maintenance = panel._buttons[BeamlineStateEnum.Maintenance]
+    assert maintenance.font().bold()
+    assert "rgb(200, 30, 30)" in maintenance.styleSheet()
+
+
+def test_availability_palette_and_cursors(qtbot):
+    panel = _panel(qtbot)
+    panel.set_current_state(BeamlineStateEnum.Maintenance)
+    available = panel._buttons[BeamlineStateEnum.SampleExchange]
+    grey = panel._buttons[BeamlineStateEnum.FluxMeasurement]
+    assert "rgb(237, 137, 54)" in available.styleSheet()
+    assert available.cursor().shape() == Qt.CursorShape.PointingHandCursor
+    assert not available.font().bold()
+    assert "rgb(140, 150, 165)" in grey.styleSheet()
+    assert grey.cursor().shape() == Qt.CursorShape.ForbiddenCursor
+    assert grey.toolTip() == ""
+    assert available.toolTip() != ""
+
+
+def test_active_non_maintenance_is_blue(qtbot):
+    panel = _panel(qtbot)
+    panel.set_current_state(BeamlineStateEnum.SampleAlignment)
+    active = panel._buttons[BeamlineStateEnum.SampleAlignment]
+    assert active.font().bold()
+    assert "rgb(0, 92, 170)" in active.styleSheet()
+
+
+def test_labels_wrap_when_narrow_and_unwrap_when_wide(qtbot):
+    panel = _panel(qtbot)
+    sample_exchange = panel._buttons[BeamlineStateEnum.SampleExchange]
+
+    panel.resize(600, 60)
+    panel._update_label_mode()
+    assert not panel._single_line
+    assert sample_exchange.text() == "Manual sample\nexchange"
+
+    panel.resize(4000, 60)
+    panel._update_label_mode()
+    assert panel._single_line
+    assert sample_exchange.text() == "Manual sample exchange"
+
+
+def test_left_click_never_transitions_but_hints(qtbot):
+    panel = _panel(qtbot)
+    panel.set_current_state(BeamlineStateEnum.Maintenance)
+    with qtbot.assertNotEmitted(panel.sample_exchange):
+        panel._on_left_click(BeamlineStateEnum.SampleExchange)  # reminder tip
+        panel._on_left_click(BeamlineStateEnum.FluxMeasurement)  # reachability hint
+        panel._on_left_click(BeamlineStateEnum.Maintenance)  # current: no-op
+
+
+def test_hover_hint_timer_lifecycle(qtbot):
+    panel = _panel(qtbot)
+    panel.set_current_state(BeamlineStateEnum.Maintenance)
+    panel._set_hovered_state(BeamlineStateEnum.FluxMeasurement)
+    assert panel._hover_hint_timer.isActive()
+    panel._show_hover_hint()  # runs the unavailable-hint path
+    panel._clear_hovered_state()
+    assert not panel._hover_hint_timer.isActive()
+    assert panel._hovered_state is None
+
+
+def test_update_daq_status_sets_state(qtbot, daq_status_factory):
+    panel = _panel(qtbot)
+    panel.update_daq_status(daq_status_factory(state=BeamlineStateEnum.SampleAlignment))
+    assert panel._current_state == BeamlineStateEnum.SampleAlignment
+
+
+def test_pending_target_cleared_on_arrival(qtbot):
+    panel = _panel(qtbot)
+    panel.set_current_state(BeamlineStateEnum.Maintenance)
+    panel._emit_for_state(BeamlineStateEnum.SampleExchange)
+    assert panel._pending_target_state == BeamlineStateEnum.SampleExchange
+    panel.set_current_state(BeamlineStateEnum.SampleExchange)
+    assert panel._pending_target_state is None