diff --git a/backend/operator_auth.py b/backend/operator_auth.py
index 5927865..1ed0820 100644
--- a/backend/operator_auth.py
+++ b/backend/operator_auth.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 
 from backend.models import OperatorUser
 from backend.auth_passwords import hash_password, verify_password, generate_password
+from backend.auth_cookies import sign, read, COOKIE_SECURE
 
 # Feature flag — OFF by default. When off, the gate and require_role both pass
 # everything through and the app behaves exactly as it does today.
@@ -33,3 +34,30 @@ def role_at_least(role: str, minimum: str) -> bool:
 
 def _norm_email(email: str) -> str:
     return (email or "").strip().lower()
+
+
+def make_operator_cookie(uid: str, iat: int = None) -> str:
+    """Sign a tv_session value for a user id. iat defaults to now; pass an explicit
+    iat when you bump sessions_valid_from to that same instant (change-password)."""
+    return sign({"uid": uid, "iat": int(iat if iat is not None else time.time())})
+
+
+def current_operator(request, db):
+    """Resolve the OperatorUser for a request's tv_session cookie, or None.
+    Re-validated against the DB every call: a disabled / locked / password-changed
+    user drops on the next request. Used by the gate middleware (with its own
+    session) — does not raise."""
+    data = read(request.cookies.get(COOKIE_NAME), COOKIE_MAX_AGE)
+    if not data:
+        return None
+    uid, iat = data.get("uid"), data.get("iat")
+    if not uid or not isinstance(iat, (int, float)):
+        return None
+    user = db.query(OperatorUser).filter_by(id=uid).first()
+    if not user or not user.active:
+        return None
+    if user.locked_until and user.locked_until > datetime.utcnow():
+        return None
+    if user.sessions_valid_from and datetime.utcfromtimestamp(int(iat)) < user.sessions_valid_from:
+        return None
+    return user
diff --git a/tests/test_operator_session.py b/tests/test_operator_session.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f30531
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_operator_session.py
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# tests/test_operator_session.py
+import time
+import uuid
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+
+from backend.models import OperatorUser
+from backend.operator_auth import (
+    make_operator_cookie, current_operator, COOKIE_NAME,
+)
+
+
+def _make_user(db, **kw):
+    u = OperatorUser(id=str(uuid.uuid4()), email=kw.pop("email", "u@x.com"),
+                     display_name="U", password_hash="h", role=kw.pop("role", "admin"), **kw)
+    db.add(u)
+    db.commit()
+    return u
+
+
+def _req(cookie_value):
+    # current_operator only reads request.cookies — a stub is enough.
+    return SimpleNamespace(cookies={COOKIE_NAME: cookie_value} if cookie_value else {})
+
+
+def test_valid_cookie_resolves_user(db_session):
+    u = _make_user(db_session)
+    cookie = make_operator_cookie(u.id)
+    assert current_operator(_req(cookie), db_session).id == u.id
+
+
+def test_no_or_garbage_cookie_is_none(db_session):
+    assert current_operator(_req(None), db_session) is None
+    assert current_operator(_req("garbage"), db_session) is None
+
+
+def test_inactive_user_is_none(db_session):
+    u = _make_user(db_session, active=False)
+    assert current_operator(_req(make_operator_cookie(u.id)), db_session) is None
+
+
+def test_locked_user_is_none(db_session):
+    u = _make_user(db_session, locked_until=datetime.utcnow() + timedelta(minutes=5))
+    assert current_operator(_req(make_operator_cookie(u.id)), db_session) is None
+
+
+def test_cookie_older_than_sessions_valid_from_is_none(db_session):
+    u = _make_user(db_session)
+    old_iat = int(time.time()) - 1000
+    cookie = make_operator_cookie(u.id, iat=old_iat)
+    u.sessions_valid_from = datetime.utcnow()
+    db_session.commit()
+    assert current_operator(_req(cookie), db_session) is None
+
+
+def test_cookie_minted_with_matching_iat_after_bump_still_valid(db_session):
+    # Guards the change-password race: bump sessions_valid_from to the new cookie's
+    # exact iat → that fresh cookie must remain valid.
+    u = _make_user(db_session)
+    new_iat = int(time.time())
+    u.sessions_valid_from = datetime.utcfromtimestamp(new_iat)
+    db_session.commit()
+    assert current_operator(_req(make_operator_cookie(u.id, iat=new_iat)), db_session).id == u.id