diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 091fe52..cbe2809 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     timeout-minutes: 15
     env:
-      PY_FIXTURE_REF: 0e923284d4c1194a1f390fd75cd361cb48c8efd3
+      PY_FIXTURE_REF: 6ca2ad74136b46a4da3b67061ecfd835e0ccf0b8
       PY_FIXTURE_CHECKOUT: /tmp/context-compiler-source
 
     steps:
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8a6f3d7..bb6d978 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -73,16 +73,16 @@ npm install @rlippmann/context-compiler
 ## Quick Start
 
 ```ts
-import { createEngine } from '@rlippmann/context-compiler';
+import { createEngine, get_clarify_prompt, is_clarify, is_update } from '@rlippmann/context-compiler';
 
 const engine = createEngine();
 const decision = engine.step('set premise concise replies');
 
-if (decision.kind === 'update') {
+if (is_update(decision)) {
   // Use the updated stored rules from the engine.
   console.log(engine.state);
-} else if (decision.kind === 'clarify') {
-  console.log(decision.prompt_to_user);
+} else if (is_clarify(decision)) {
+  console.log(get_clarify_prompt(decision));
 } else {
   // passthrough
 }
diff --git a/demos/common.ts b/demos/common.ts
index 8bc0c55..425c457 100644
--- a/demos/common.ts
+++ b/demos/common.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,13 @@
-import { createEngine, getPolicyItems, getPremiseValue } from '../src/index.js';
+import {
+  POLICY_PROHIBIT,
+  POLICY_USE,
+  createEngine,
+  getPolicyItems,
+  getPremiseValue,
+  get_clarify_prompt,
+  is_clarify,
+  is_update
+} from '../src/index.js';
 import type { Decision, EngineState } from '../src/index.js';
 import type { Message } from './llm_client.js';
 
@@ -41,8 +50,8 @@ function printStateSummary(state: EngineState): void {
   const premiseText = premiseValue ?? '(none)';
   console.log('compiled state:');
   console.log(`- premise: ${premiseText}`);
-  console.log(`- use policies: ${policyValuesText(state, 'use')}`);
-  console.log(`- prohibit policies: ${policyValuesText(state, 'prohibit')}`);
+  console.log(`- use policies: ${policyValuesText(state, POLICY_USE)}`);
+  console.log(`- prohibit policies: ${policyValuesText(state, POLICY_PROHIBIT)}`);
 }
 
 function printMultilinePrompt(label: string, prompt: string): void {
@@ -73,13 +82,14 @@ export function printDecision(title: string, decision: Decision, state: EngineSt
     return;
   }
   console.log(`Compiler decision (${title}):`);
-  if (decision.kind === 'update') {
+  if (is_update(decision)) {
     console.log('result: updated');
     printStateSummary(state);
-  } else if (decision.kind === 'clarify') {
+  } else if (is_clarify(decision)) {
     console.log('result: clarify');
-    if (decision.prompt_to_user) {
-      printMultilinePrompt('clarify prompt', decision.prompt_to_user);
+    const clarifyPrompt = get_clarify_prompt(decision);
+    if (clarifyPrompt) {
+      printMultilinePrompt('clarify prompt', clarifyPrompt);
     }
     printStateSummary(state);
   } else {
@@ -227,12 +237,12 @@ export function compactUserTurns(userTurns: string[]): {
 
   for (const turn of userTurns) {
     const decision = engine.step(turn);
-    if (decision.kind === 'update') {
+    if (is_update(decision)) {
       continue;
     }
     compactedTurns.push(turn);
-    if (decision.kind === 'clarify') {
-      promptToUser = decision.prompt_to_user;
+    if (is_clarify(decision)) {
+      promptToUser = get_clarify_prompt(decision);
       break;
     }
   }
@@ -246,8 +256,8 @@ export function compactUserTurns(userTurns: string[]): {
 
 export function buildCompiledSystemPrompt(state: EngineState): string {
   const premise = getPremiseValue(state) ?? '(unset)';
-  const useItems = getPolicyItems(state, 'use');
-  const prohibitItems = getPolicyItems(state, 'prohibit');
+  const useItems = getPolicyItems(state, POLICY_USE);
+  const prohibitItems = getPolicyItems(state, POLICY_PROHIBIT);
   const useText = useItems.length > 0 ? useItems.join(', ') : '(none)';
   const prohibitText = prohibitItems.length > 0 ? prohibitItems.join(', ') : '(none)';
 
diff --git a/examples/03_ambiguity_with_clarification.ts b/examples/03_ambiguity_with_clarification.ts
index 0c504fe..3f8252b 100644
--- a/examples/03_ambiguity_with_clarification.ts
+++ b/examples/03_ambiguity_with_clarification.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { createEngine } from '../src/index.js';
+import { createEngine, get_clarify_prompt, is_clarify } from '../src/index.js';
 
 declare const process: { argv: string[] };
 
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export function runExample03(): {
   const contradictionDecision = engine.step('use peanuts');
 
   let llmCalled = false;
-  if (contradictionDecision.kind !== 'clarify') {
+  if (!is_clarify(contradictionDecision)) {
     llmCalled = true;
   }
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ export function runExample03(): {
 
   return {
     clarifyKind: contradictionDecision.kind,
-    clarifyPrompt: contradictionDecision.prompt_to_user,
+    clarifyPrompt: get_clarify_prompt(contradictionDecision),
     llmCalled,
     resetKind: resetDecision.kind
   };
diff --git a/examples/04_tool_governance_denylist.ts b/examples/04_tool_governance_denylist.ts
index a02b8cb..bf20988 100644
--- a/examples/04_tool_governance_denylist.ts
+++ b/examples/04_tool_governance_denylist.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { createEngine, getPolicyItems } from '../src/index.js';
+import { POLICY_PROHIBIT, createEngine, getPolicyItems } from '../src/index.js';
 
 declare const process: { argv: string[] };
 
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ export function runExample04(): {
   const engine = createEngine();
 
   const decision = engine.step('prohibit docker');
-  const prohibited = new Set(getPolicyItems(engine.state, 'prohibit'));
+  const prohibited = new Set(getPolicyItems(engine.state, POLICY_PROHIBIT));
 
   const tools = ['docker', 'kubectl'];
   const blockedTools = tools.filter((tool) => prohibited.has(tool));
diff --git a/examples/05_llm_integration_pattern.ts b/examples/05_llm_integration_pattern.ts
index 2418e45..7293e97 100644
--- a/examples/05_llm_integration_pattern.ts
+++ b/examples/05_llm_integration_pattern.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { createEngine } from '../src/index.js';
+import { createEngine, is_passthrough, is_update } from '../src/index.js';
 
 declare const process: { argv: string[] };
 
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ type HostAction = 'call_llm_without_state' | 'call_llm_with_state' | 'show_clari
 
 function handleTurn(engine: ReturnType<typeof createEngine>, input: string): HostAction {
   const decision = engine.step(input);
-  if (decision.kind === 'passthrough') {
+  if (is_passthrough(decision)) {
     return 'call_llm_without_state';
   }
-  if (decision.kind === 'update') {
+  if (is_update(decision)) {
     return 'call_llm_with_state';
   }
   return 'show_clarify_prompt';
diff --git a/examples/07_single_policy_correction.ts b/examples/07_single_policy_correction.ts
index df52f9c..331c62f 100644
--- a/examples/07_single_policy_correction.ts
+++ b/examples/07_single_policy_correction.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { createEngine, getPolicyItems } from '../src/index.js';
+import { POLICY_PROHIBIT, POLICY_USE, createEngine, getPolicyItems } from '../src/index.js';
 
 declare const process: { argv: string[] };
 
@@ -11,12 +11,12 @@ export function runExample07(): {
   const decision1 = engine.step('prohibit peanuts');
   const decision2 = engine.step('remove policy peanuts');
   const decision3 = engine.step('use peanuts');
-  const useItems = getPolicyItems(engine.state, 'use');
-  const prohibitItems = getPolicyItems(engine.state, 'prohibit');
+  const useItems = getPolicyItems(engine.state, POLICY_USE);
+  const prohibitItems = getPolicyItems(engine.state, POLICY_PROHIBIT);
 
   return {
     stepKinds: [decision1.kind, decision2.kind, decision3.kind],
-    finalPolicy: useItems.includes('peanuts') ? 'use' : prohibitItems.includes('peanuts') ? 'prohibit' : null
+    finalPolicy: useItems.includes('peanuts') ? POLICY_USE : prohibitItems.includes('peanuts') ? POLICY_PROHIBIT : null
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/examples/nextjs-basic/app/api/chat/route.ts b/examples/nextjs-basic/app/api/chat/route.ts
index aab9333..cfa5536 100644
--- a/examples/nextjs-basic/app/api/chat/route.ts
+++ b/examples/nextjs-basic/app/api/chat/route.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,12 @@
-import { createEngine, getPolicyItems, getPremiseValue, type EngineState } from '@rlippmann/context-compiler';
+import {
+  DECISION_CLARIFY,
+  POLICY_USE,
+  createEngine,
+  getPolicyItems,
+  getPremiseValue,
+  is_clarify,
+  type EngineState
+} from '@rlippmann/context-compiler';
 import { loadSessionState, saveSessionState } from '../../../lib/context-sessions';
 
 type ChatBody = {
@@ -8,11 +16,11 @@ type ChatBody = {
 };
 
 type ChatResponse =
-  | { kind: 'clarify'; prompt_to_user: string | null }
+  | { kind: typeof DECISION_CLARIFY; prompt_to_user: string | null }
   | { kind: 'continue'; output: string };
 
 function stateToSystemPrompt(state: EngineState): string {
-  const useItems = new Set(getPolicyItems(state, 'use'));
+  const useItems = new Set(getPolicyItems(state, POLICY_USE));
   const policies = getPolicyItems(state)
     .map((item) => `- ${useItems.has(item) ? 'USE' : 'PROHIBIT'}: ${item}`)
     .join('\n');
@@ -64,7 +72,7 @@ export async function POST(req: Request): Promise<Response> {
     if (replay.kind === 'confirm') {
       saveSessionState(sessionId, engine.exportCheckpointJson());
       const payload: ChatResponse = {
-        kind: 'clarify',
+        kind: DECISION_CLARIFY,
         prompt_to_user: replay.prompt_to_user
       };
       return Response.json(payload);
@@ -75,10 +83,10 @@ export async function POST(req: Request): Promise<Response> {
 
   const decision = engine.step(input);
 
-  if (decision.kind === 'clarify') {
+  if (is_clarify(decision)) {
     saveSessionState(sessionId, engine.exportCheckpointJson());
     const payload: ChatResponse = {
-      kind: 'clarify',
+      kind: DECISION_CLARIFY,
       prompt_to_user: decision.prompt_to_user
     };
     return Response.json(payload);
diff --git a/examples/node-basic/server.ts b/examples/node-basic/server.ts
index dfc7d22..7d1b067 100644
--- a/examples/node-basic/server.ts
+++ b/examples/node-basic/server.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 import http from 'node:http';
-import { createEngine, getPolicyItems, getPremiseValue, type EngineState } from '@rlippmann/context-compiler';
+import {
+  DECISION_CLARIFY,
+  POLICY_USE,
+  createEngine,
+  getPolicyItems,
+  getPremiseValue,
+  is_clarify,
+  type EngineState
+} from '@rlippmann/context-compiler';
 import {
   parse_preprocessor_output,
   preprocess_heuristic
@@ -12,7 +20,7 @@ type ChatBody = {
 };
 
 type ChatResponse =
-  | { kind: 'clarify'; prompt_to_user: string | null }
+  | { kind: typeof DECISION_CLARIFY; prompt_to_user: string | null }
   | { kind: 'continue'; output: string };
 
 const checkpointBySession = new Map<string, string>(); // sessionId -> engine.exportCheckpointJson()
@@ -26,7 +34,7 @@ function saveCheckpoint(sessionId: string, json: string): void {
 }
 
 function stateToSystemPrompt(state: EngineState): string {
-  const useItems = new Set(getPolicyItems(state, 'use'));
+  const useItems = new Set(getPolicyItems(state, POLICY_USE));
   const policies = getPolicyItems(state)
     .map((item: string) => `- ${useItems.has(item) ? 'USE' : 'PROHIBIT'}: ${item}`)
     .join('\n');
@@ -103,7 +111,7 @@ const server = http.createServer(async (req, res) => {
       const replay = engine.apply_transcript(replayMessages);
       if (replay.kind === 'confirm') {
         saveCheckpoint(sessionId, engine.exportCheckpointJson());
-        const payload: ChatResponse = { kind: 'clarify', prompt_to_user: replay.prompt_to_user };
+        const payload: ChatResponse = { kind: DECISION_CLARIFY, prompt_to_user: replay.prompt_to_user };
         sendJson(res, 200, payload);
         return;
       }
@@ -112,9 +120,9 @@ const server = http.createServer(async (req, res) => {
 
     const preprocessedInput = normalizeInputWithPreprocessor(input);
     const decision = engine.step(preprocessedInput);
-    if (decision.kind === 'clarify') {
+    if (is_clarify(decision)) {
       saveCheckpoint(sessionId, engine.exportCheckpointJson());
-      const payload: ChatResponse = { kind: 'clarify', prompt_to_user: decision.prompt_to_user };
+      const payload: ChatResponse = { kind: DECISION_CLARIFY, prompt_to_user: decision.prompt_to_user };
       sendJson(res, 200, payload);
       return;
     }
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 145ec3b..71615d6 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -2,9 +2,33 @@ export { createEngine, compile_transcript, getPremiseValue, getPolicyItems } fro
 export { OUTPUT_VERSION, preview, state_diff, step } from './controller.js';
 export type { Engine, EngineInit } from './engine.js';
 export type { PreviewResult, StepResult, StructuralDiff } from './controller.js';
+import type { Decision, EngineState } from './types.js';
 export const DECISION_PASSTHROUGH = 'passthrough' as const;
 export const DECISION_UPDATE = 'update' as const;
 export const DECISION_CLARIFY = 'clarify' as const;
+export const POLICY_USE = 'use' as const;
+export const POLICY_PROHIBIT = 'prohibit' as const;
+
+export function is_update(decision: Decision): boolean {
+  return decision.kind === DECISION_UPDATE;
+}
+
+export function is_clarify(decision: Decision): boolean {
+  return decision.kind === DECISION_CLARIFY;
+}
+
+export function is_passthrough(decision: Decision): boolean {
+  return decision.kind === DECISION_PASSTHROUGH;
+}
+
+export function get_clarify_prompt(decision: Decision): string | null {
+  return is_clarify(decision) ? decision.prompt_to_user : null;
+}
+
+export function get_decision_state(decision: Decision): EngineState | null {
+  return decision.state;
+}
+
 export type {
   ApplyResult,
   CheckpointPendingReplacement,
diff --git a/tests/api_parity.test.ts b/tests/api_parity.test.ts
index 75b3558..90f6b38 100644
--- a/tests/api_parity.test.ts
+++ b/tests/api_parity.test.ts
@@ -22,9 +22,16 @@ const PYTHON_TO_TS_EXPORT_MAP: Record<string, string> = {
   compile_transcript: 'compile_transcript',
   get_premise_value: 'getPremiseValue',
   get_policy_items: 'getPolicyItems',
+  is_update: 'is_update',
+  is_clarify: 'is_clarify',
+  is_passthrough: 'is_passthrough',
+  get_clarify_prompt: 'get_clarify_prompt',
+  get_decision_state: 'get_decision_state',
   DECISION_PASSTHROUGH: 'DECISION_PASSTHROUGH',
   DECISION_UPDATE: 'DECISION_UPDATE',
   DECISION_CLARIFY: 'DECISION_CLARIFY',
+  POLICY_USE: 'POLICY_USE',
+  POLICY_PROHIBIT: 'POLICY_PROHIBIT',
   TranscriptMessage: '__type_only__',
   Transcript: '__type_only__',
   ApplyResult: '__type_only__'
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/README.md b/tests/fixtures/README.md
index 05af512..126e499 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/README.md
+++ b/tests/fixtures/README.md
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ This directory contains multiple fixture suites with different contracts.
 
 ## API contract fixture
 
-[`conformance/api/public-api-v1.json`](conformance/api/public-api-v1.json) defines a small public API presence contract for the Python 0.6 surface that ports must expose.
+[`conformance/api/public-api-v1.json`](conformance/api/public-api-v1.json) defines a small public API presence contract for the Python 0.7.x surface that ports must expose.
 
 Ports may sync this artifact with conformance fixtures.
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/conformance/api/public-api-v1.json b/tests/fixtures/conformance/api/public-api-v1.json
index c923c9e..18a84fc 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/conformance/api/public-api-v1.json
+++ b/tests/fixtures/conformance/api/public-api-v1.json
@@ -8,9 +8,16 @@
     "compile_transcript",
     "get_premise_value",
     "get_policy_items",
+    "is_update",
+    "is_clarify",
+    "is_passthrough",
+    "get_clarify_prompt",
+    "get_decision_state",
     "DECISION_PASSTHROUGH",
     "DECISION_UPDATE",
     "DECISION_CLARIFY",
+    "POLICY_USE",
+    "POLICY_PROHIBIT",
     "TranscriptMessage",
     "Transcript",
     "ApplyResult"