diff --git a/.changeset/widen-changelog-gate-template-paths.md b/.changeset/widen-changelog-gate-template-paths.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..31563a7e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/widen-changelog-gate-template-paths.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+'@bradygaster/squad-cli': patch
+---
+
+Widen changelog-gate coverage for template and scaffolding paths
+
+Previously, the changelog gate only required a changeset for `packages/squad-(sdk|cli)/src/` changes, so template and scaffolding updates under `packages/squad-(sdk|cli)/templates/`, `.squad-templates/`, top-level `templates/`, and agent charters under `.squad/agents/*/charter.md` could reach users with no release-note entry. This widens the gate to those paths so user-facing template and scaffolding changes are no longer silently omitted from release notes. Closes #1156.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/squad-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/squad-ci.yml
index 569e498cd..2a9b6aa70 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/squad-ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/squad-ci.yml
@@ -219,12 +219,18 @@ jobs:
           BASE="${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}"
           HEAD="${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}"
           CHANGED=$(git diff --name-only "$BASE"..."$HEAD")
-          SDK_CLI_CHANGED=$(echo "$CHANGED" | grep -E '^packages/squad-(sdk|cli)/src/' || true)
+          # Paths whose changes ship behavioral or scaffolding updates and therefore
+          # require a changeset (or CHANGELOG update). The top-level templates/ tree is
+          # the primary sync target of .squad-templates/ (see scripts/sync-templates.mjs) —
+          # an append-only superset whose entire tree is governed squad scaffolding, not
+          # unrelated content. Agent charters under .squad/agents/ are likewise governed.
+          SDK_CLI_PATH_REGEX='^packages/squad-(sdk|cli)/src/|^packages/squad-(sdk|cli)/templates/|^\.squad-templates/|^templates/|^\.squad/agents/.+/charter\.md$'
+          SDK_CLI_CHANGED=$(echo "$CHANGED" | grep -E "$SDK_CLI_PATH_REGEX" || true)
           if [ -z "$SDK_CLI_CHANGED" ]; then
-            echo "✅ Not applicable (no SDK/CLI source changes)" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+            echo "✅ Not applicable (no SDK/CLI source or template changes)" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
             exit 0
           fi
-          echo "SDK/CLI source files changed:"
+          echo "SDK/CLI source or template files changed:"
           echo "$SDK_CLI_CHANGED"
           CHANGESET_ADDED=$(git diff --diff-filter=AM --name-only "$BASE"..."$HEAD" | grep -E '^\.changeset/[^/]+\.md$' | grep -vxF '.changeset/README.md' || true)
           CHANGELOG_CHANGED=$(echo "$CHANGED" | grep -E '^CHANGELOG\.md$' || true)
@@ -236,7 +242,7 @@ jobs:
             echo "✅ CHANGELOG.md updated" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
             exit 0
           fi
-          echo "::error::No changeset or CHANGELOG.md update found, but SDK/CLI source files were changed."
+          echo "::error::No changeset or CHANGELOG.md update found, but SDK/CLI source or template files were changed."
           echo "::error::Run 'npx changeset add' or edit CHANGELOG.md. Escape hatch: add 'skip-changelog' label."
           echo "❌ No changeset or CHANGELOG.md update" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
           exit 1
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 2d2c5548c..8c0eae1c2 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ External contributors don't have write access, so the review-to-merge flow has a
 
 **Your side (contributor):**
 
-1. ✅ All required CI checks are green (build, test, lint; changeset/CHANGELOG gate only applies when `packages/squad-cli/src/` or `packages/squad-sdk/src/` files change)
+1. ✅ All required CI checks are green (build, test, lint; the changeset/CHANGELOG gate applies when `packages/squad-(sdk|cli)/src/` **or** governed template/scaffolding paths change — `packages/squad-(sdk|cli)/templates/`, `.squad-templates/`, top-level `templates/`, and `.squad/agents/*/charter.md`)
 2. ✅ PR is no longer a draft — mark as **"Ready for review"**
 3. ✅ Copilot reviewer bot posts its review automatically
 4. ✅ Review Copilot's suggestions and manually apply any you agree with in your fork
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ An automated readiness check runs on every PR and posts a checklist comment. Add
 | **Not in draft** | Mark your PR as "Ready for review" when it's done |
 | **Branch up to date** | Rebase on latest `dev` (`git fetch upstream && git rebase upstream/dev`) |
 | **Copilot review** | Wait for the Copilot reviewer bot to post its review |
-| **Changeset present** | Run `npx changeset add` if you changed files in `packages/squad-sdk/src/` or `packages/squad-cli/src/` |
+| **Changeset present** | Run `npx changeset add` if you changed `packages/squad-(sdk|cli)/src/` or governed template/scaffolding paths (`packages/squad-(sdk|cli)/templates/`, `.squad-templates/`, top-level `templates/`, `.squad/agents/*/charter.md`) |
 | **No merge conflicts** | Resolve any conflicts with the target branch |
 | **CI passing** | All CI checks (build, test, lint) must be green |
 
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ npm unlink -w packages/squad-cli
 
 Squad uses [@changesets/cli](https://github.com/changesets/changesets) for independent package versioning.
 
-**When your PR changes SDK or CLI source files** (`packages/squad-sdk/src/` or `packages/squad-cli/src/`), add a changeset file instead of editing `CHANGELOG.md` directly. Changesets prevent merge conflicts when multiple PRs are open simultaneously and are the preferred workflow.
+**When your PR changes SDK or CLI source files** (`packages/squad-sdk/src/` or `packages/squad-cli/src/`) **or governed template/scaffolding paths** (`packages/squad-(sdk|cli)/templates/`, `.squad-templates/`, top-level `templates/`, or `.squad/agents/*/charter.md`), add a changeset file instead of editing `CHANGELOG.md` directly. Changesets prevent merge conflicts when multiple PRs are open simultaneously and are the preferred workflow.
 
 ### Adding a Changeset
 
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ Add streaming support to agent orchestration. Update CLI to display stream progr
 
 ### CI Changelog Gate
 
-The `changelog-gate` CI check enforces that PRs touching SDK/CLI source files include either:
+The `changelog-gate` CI check enforces that PRs touching SDK/CLI source files — or governed template/scaffolding paths (`packages/squad-(sdk|cli)/templates/`, `.squad-templates/`, top-level `templates/`, `.squad/agents/*/charter.md`) — include either:
 - A `.changeset/*.md` file (preferred), **or**
 - A direct `CHANGELOG.md` edit (backward-compatible)
 
diff --git a/test/ci/changelog-gate.test.ts b/test/ci/changelog-gate.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..59d96e559
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/ci/changelog-gate.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+/**
+ * Reads the live SDK_CLI_PATH_REGEX from the changelog gate workflow so this
+ * suite stays in sync with CI path matching. Guards issue #1156 against
+ * regressions in governed source/template paths.
+ */
+
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeAll } from 'vitest';
+import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import path, { dirname } from 'node:path';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+
+const __dirname = dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
+const workflowPath = path.resolve(__dirname, '..', '..', '.github', 'workflows', 'squad-ci.yml');
+const workflow = readFileSync(workflowPath, 'utf-8');
+const patternMatch = workflow.match(/SDK_CLI_PATH_REGEX='([^']+)'/);
+
+let regex: RegExp;
+
+beforeAll(() => {
+  expect(
+    patternMatch,
+    'Expected changelog gate SDK_CLI_PATH_REGEX to be defined in squad-ci.yml',
+  ).not.toBeNull();
+  regex = new RegExp(patternMatch?.[1] ?? '');
+});
+
+const governedPaths = [
+  'packages/squad-sdk/src/index.ts',
+  'packages/squad-cli/src/cli/core/bootstrap.ts',
+  'packages/squad-sdk/templates/skills/example/SKILL.md',
+  'packages/squad-cli/templates/scaffold/agent.md',
+  '.squad-templates/squad.agent.md',
+  '.squad-templates/scribe-charter.md',
+  'templates/skills/release-process/SKILL.md',
+  'templates/casting/policy.json',
+  '.squad/agents/troi/charter.md',
+];
+
+const unrelatedPaths = [
+  'README.md',
+  'docs/guide/intro.md',
+  '.github/workflows/squad-ci.yml',
+  'package.json',
+  'packages/squad-cli/package.json',
+  'scripts/bump-build.mjs',
+  'test/ci/changelog-gate.test.ts',
+  '.squad/agents/troi/notes.md',
+  '.squad/routing.md',
+];
+
+describe('changelog gate path matching', () => {
+  describe('governed paths require a changeset', () => {
+    it.each(governedPaths)('%s', filePath => {
+      expect(regex.test(filePath)).toBe(true);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('unrelated paths are not gated', () => {
+    it.each(unrelatedPaths)('%s', filePath => {
+      expect(regex.test(filePath)).toBe(false);
+    });
+  });
+});