diff --git a/lib/graph/prompt-builder.js b/lib/graph/prompt-builder.js
index fe12352..b8896ae 100644
--- a/lib/graph/prompt-builder.js
+++ b/lib/graph/prompt-builder.js
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ The JSON object must contain exactly these top-level fields:
 - affectedNodeIds
 - selectedQuestion
 - answerMeaning
+- structuralActionRequired
 
 ## Required Shapes
 - addedNodes: array of nodes using these exact keys:
@@ -95,6 +96,7 @@ The JSON object must contain exactly these top-level fields:
   nodeId, question, reason
 - answerMeaning: either null or an object using these exact keys:
    userSupportedMeaning, possibleInference, supportCategory, resolutionGuidance
+- structuralActionRequired: boolean (required when userSupportedMeaning is populated)
 
 ## Proposal Rules
 1. Propose changes only. Never return a replacement graph.
@@ -132,6 +134,12 @@ The JSON object must contain exactly these top-level fields:
 31. If the answer explicitly states a hard constraint, state that directly in userSupportedMeaning.
 32. Populate resolutionGuidance when the user's meaning genuinely implies must_remain_unresolved, may_resolve, or must_resolve. Keep it null only when no existing resolution state actually applies.
 
+## Contract: structuralActionRequired Declaration Rule
+
+When answerMeaning.userSupportedMeaning is populated you MUST set structuralActionRequired to match what your proposal outputs:
+- Set structuralActionRequired = true if and only if your proposal adds nodes, updates node status/value, or modifies edges (addedNodes.length > 0, updatedNodes with a meaningful change, or addedEdges.length > 0).
+- Set structuralActionRequired = false if and only if your proposal has zero structural mutations — the two sentences are an intentional no-op declaration.
+
 ## Additional Guidance
 - If the answer only clarifies an existing unknown, prefer updatedNodes and resolvedUnknownNodeIds over creating duplicate nodes.
 - When rule #6 applies to explicitly unresolved uncertainty: first check whether an existing unresolved node already represents the same uncertainty; if so, update/refine that existing structure rather than adding a duplicate; if no such node exists, add a new unknown that directly represents the unresolved uncertainty; do not use an edge alone to represent a previously unrepresented uncertainty.
diff --git a/lib/graph/schema.js b/lib/graph/schema.js
index 91d3131..b2bf340 100644
--- a/lib/graph/schema.js
+++ b/lib/graph/schema.js
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ export const graphUpdateSchema = z.object({
   affectedNodeIds: z.array(z.string()).default([]),
   selectedQuestion: selectedQuestionSchema.nullable().default(null),
   answerMeaning: answerMeaningSchema.nullable().default(null),
+  structuralActionRequired: z.boolean().nullable().optional(),
 });
 
 /** @typedef {z.infer<typeof graphUpdateSchema>} GraphUpdate */
diff --git a/lib/graph/utils.js b/lib/graph/utils.js
index 5da637a..7aebb83 100644
--- a/lib/graph/utils.js
+++ b/lib/graph/utils.js
@@ -865,7 +865,9 @@ export function validateGraphUpdate(graph, update) {
     }
   }
 
-  // Reject updates with no meaningful change
+  // ── structuralActionRequired contract (57J.67) ───────────
+
+  const meaningPopulated = !!update.answerMeaning?.userSupportedMeaning;
   const statusChanged = update.updatedNodes.some(
     (u) => u.previousStatus !== null && u.newStatus !== u.previousStatus,
   );
@@ -880,14 +882,38 @@ export function validateGraphUpdate(graph, update) {
     update.addedEdges.length > 0 ||
     update.removedEdgeIds.length > 0;
 
-  if (!hasMeaningfulChange) {
-    // Specific diagnostic for the semantic-only no-op case: populated userSupportedMeaning with zero structural mutation.
-    // The validator does NOT determine whether meaning is "new" or "consequential" — it only observes that meaning exists without structural expression.
-    if (update.answerMeaning?.userSupportedMeaning) {
-      errors.push(
-        "answerMeaning.userSupportedMeaning is populated, but the proposal contains no graph mutation. answerMeaning alone does not constitute graph progress.",
-      );
-    } else {
+  // Missing/null transition rule: must be present when userSupportedMeaning is populated
+  if (
+    (update.structuralActionRequired === null || update.structuralActionRequired === undefined) &&
+    meaningPopulated
+  ) {
+    errors.push(
+      "structuralActionRequired must be present when userSupportedMeaning is populated",
+    );
+  }
+
+  // Exact structural claim — four contradiction pairs
+  if (update.structuralActionRequired === true && !hasMeaningfulChange) {
+    errors.push("structuralActionRequired is true but proposal contains no graph mutation");
+  }
+  if (update.structuralActionRequired === false && hasMeaningfulChange) {
+    errors.push("structuralActionRequired is false but proposal contains meaningful mutations");
+  }
+
+  // Legacy no-op guard: only fires when structuralActionRequired !== false.
+  // When false → zero-mutation is a valid intentional no-op (contract PASS).
+  if (!hasMeaningfulChange && update.structuralActionRequired !== false) {
+    if (meaningPopulated) {
+      // Avoid double-error when field absence was already flagged above
+      if (
+        update.structuralActionRequired !== null &&
+        update.structuralActionRequired !== undefined
+      ) {
+        errors.push(
+          "answerMeaning.userSupportedMeaning is populated, but the proposal contains no graph mutation. answerMeaning alone does not constitute graph progress.",
+        );
+      }
+    } else if (!meaningPopulated) {
       errors.push("Update contains no meaningful change");
     }
   }