diff --git a/.github/release-proposals/publish.yml b/.github/release-proposals/publish.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e3cde5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/release-proposals/publish.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+# PROPOSAL ONLY. Move to .github/workflows/publish.yml only after access approval.
+name: Publish npm package
+on:
+  release:
+    types: [published]
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+concurrency:
+  group: npm-release-${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}
+  cancel-in-progress: false
+jobs:
+  publish:
+    if: ${{ !github.event.release.prerelease }}
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 30
+    permissions:
+      contents: read
+      actions: read
+      id-token: write
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@3d3c42e5aac5ba805825da76410c181273ba90b1 # v7.0.1
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+          ref: ${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@949feb2413d6458794dcd2491c4babbbce0c15c1 # v7.1.0
+        with:
+          node-version: 26
+      - uses: oven-sh/setup-bun@0c5077e51419868618aeaa5fe8019c62421857d6 # v2.2.0
+        with:
+          bun-version: 1.4.3
+      - name: Validate metadata and registry state
+        id: metadata
+        env:
+          RELEASE_TAG: ${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}
+        run: |
+          node --test scripts/check-release-guard.mjs
+          node scripts/release-check.mjs "$RELEASE_TAG" --registry
+      - name: Require successful CI on this exact source
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+        run: |
+          source_sha="$(git rev-parse HEAD)"
+          test "$source_sha" = "$(git rev-parse "$GITHUB_SHA^{commit}")"
+          git merge-base --is-ancestor "$source_sha" "origin/main"
+          gh api "repos/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY/actions/workflows/lint.yml/runs?head_sha=$source_sha&per_page=100" > "$RUNNER_TEMP/ci.json"
+          jq -e --arg sha "$source_sha" '[.workflow_runs[] | select(.head_sha == $sha and .conclusion == "success" and .event == "push" and .head_branch == "main")] | length > 0' "$RUNNER_TEMP/ci.json"
+      - run: bun install --frozen-lockfile
+      - name: Check and build
+        run: bun run check
+      - name: Pack the checked output
+        env:
+          RELEASE_TAG: ${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p "$RUNNER_TEMP/release"
+          bun pm pack --ignore-scripts --filename "$RUNNER_TEMP/release/package.tgz"
+          node scripts/release-check.mjs "$RELEASE_TAG"
+          tar -tzf "$RUNNER_TEMP"/release/*.tgz
+          tar -xOf "$RUNNER_TEMP"/release/*.tgz package/package.json > "$RUNNER_TEMP/packed-package.json"
+          node --input-type=module -e 'import { readFileSync } from "node:fs"; const source = JSON.parse(readFileSync("package.json")); const packed = JSON.parse(readFileSync(process.env.RUNNER_TEMP + "/packed-package.json")); if (packed.name !== source.name || packed.version !== source.version || packed.private) throw new Error("Packed package identity differs from checked source")'
+      - name: Publish checked tarball with npm OIDC
+        if: steps.metadata.outputs.should_publish == 'true'
+        working-directory: ${{ runner.temp }}
+        env:
+          PRERELEASE: ${{ github.event.release.prerelease }}
+        run: |
+          node -e 'const v=process.argv[1].split(".").map(Number); if(v[0]<11 || (v[0]===11 && (v[1]<5 || (v[1]===5 && v[2]<1)))) throw new Error("npm >=11.5.1 required")' "$(npm --version)"
+          dist_tag=latest
+          if [ "$PRERELEASE" = true ]; then dist_tag=next; fi
+          npm publish "$RUNNER_TEMP"/release/*.tgz --ignore-scripts --access public --tag "$dist_tag"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml b/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml
index 67a9378..9c70507 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml
@@ -18,16 +18,16 @@ jobs:
         uses: dependabot/fetch-metadata@v3.1.0
         with:
           github-token: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
-          
+
       - name: Auto-approve PR
         run: gh pr review --approve "$PR_URL"
         env:
           PR_URL: ${{ github.event.pull_request.html_url }}
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-          
+
       - name: Auto-merge PR
         if: ${{ steps.metadata.outputs.update-type != 'version-update:semver-major' }}
         run: gh pr merge --auto --squash "$PR_URL"
         env:
           PR_URL: ${{ github.event.pull_request.html_url }}
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
\ No newline at end of file
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/lint.yml b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
index 01b5738..404ed5d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lint.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lint.yml
@@ -17,16 +17,19 @@ jobs:
   lint-and-build:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     timeout-minutes: 15
-    
+
     steps:
       - name: Checkout code
         uses: actions/checkout@v7.0.1
-        
+
+      - name: Test release metadata guard
+        run: node --test scripts/check-release-guard.mjs
+
       - name: Setup Bun
         uses: oven-sh/setup-bun@v2.2.0
         with:
           bun-version: 1.4.3
-          
+
       - name: Cache Bun packages
         uses: actions/cache@v6.1.0
         with:
@@ -35,7 +38,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: bun install --frozen-lockfile
-        
+
       # Source checks run independently before the package build.
       - parallel:
           - name: Run Biome lint
diff --git a/.github/workflows/storybook.yml b/.github/workflows/storybook.yml
index fe7ba32..c1692d7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/storybook.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/storybook.yml
@@ -9,16 +9,16 @@ on:
 jobs:
   build:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    
+
     steps:
       - name: Checkout code
         uses: actions/checkout@v7.0.1
-        
+
       - name: Setup Bun
         uses: oven-sh/setup-bun@v2.2.0
         with:
           bun-version: 1.4.3
-          
+
       - name: Cache Bun packages
         uses: actions/cache@v6.1.0
         with:
@@ -27,6 +27,6 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: bun install --frozen-lockfile
-        
+
       - name: Build Storybook
-        run: bun run build-storybook
\ No newline at end of file
+        run: bun run build-storybook
diff --git a/docs/actions-publishing.md b/docs/actions-publishing.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b48591
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/actions-publishing.md
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# Actions publishing
+
+The release guard validates stable `v<package.json version>` tags, refuses private
+packages and mismatched npm lock metadata, and stops on registry errors. A 200
+response means the version is immutable; it never forces another upload.
+
+Run `node --test scripts/check-release-guard.mjs` and
+`node scripts/release-check.mjs v<version>` without publishing.
+`--registry` adds a read-only check of the exact public npm version.
+
+## Approval proposal
+
+The complete workflow is in [publish.yml](../.github/release-proposals/publish.yml).
+It is outside `.github/workflows` and cannot run. After explicit approval, move it
+to `.github/workflows/publish.yml` (replacing an existing publisher where present).
+It uses published GitHub releases, checks the exact tagged source against successful
+CI, installs the frozen lockfile, checks/builds, packs and publishes the checked
+tarball. It does not create versions, tags or GitHub releases. Stable releases use
+`latest`; prereleases are excluded.
+
+Approval must cover the workflow job's `contents: read`, `actions: read`, and
+`id-token: write`, plus this npm trusted-publisher binding:
+
+- npm package: `baseui-data-table`
+- GitHub owner: `kahwee`
+- repository: `baseui-tanstack-table`
+- workflow filename: `publish.yml`
+- environment: blank
+- allowed action: direct `npm publish` only; no extra dist-tag management grant
+
+Use GitHub-hosted runners and npm >=11.5.1; no npm secret is needed. Configure and
+read back the binding in the package owner's npm settings after approval. Existing
+secret presence and a local login do not prove CI publish access. Do not revoke
+existing credentials or change package security settings as part of this proposal.
+See [npm trusted publishing](https://docs.npmjs.com/trusted-publishers/).
+
+No publishing action or registry trust was enabled by this change. Run the full
+existing CI after review. Authentication remains untested until a separately
+authorized real release; a package dry run does not validate OIDC exchange.
+
+The package endpoint returned HTTP 404 during this audit. Confirm package-name
+ownership and perform a separately authorized first publication before configuring
+trusted publishing; a missing name is not a reservation. No bootstrap upload was
+attempted here.
diff --git a/scripts/check-release-guard.mjs b/scripts/check-release-guard.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..79959d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/check-release-guard.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict'
+import { spawnSync } from 'node:child_process'
+import { mkdtempSync, readFileSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs'
+import { tmpdir } from 'node:os'
+import { dirname, resolve } from 'node:path'
+import test from 'node:test'
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url'
+import { registryState, validateRelease } from './release-check.mjs'
+
+const pkg = { name: 'example-package', version: '1.2.3' }
+test('matches tag, rejects private, prerelease, mismatched tag and lock', () => {
+  assert.equal(validateRelease(pkg, 'v1.2.3'), '1.2.3')
+  for (const [candidate, tag, lock] of [
+    [{ ...pkg, private: true }, 'v1.2.3'],
+    [{ ...pkg, version: '1.2.3-rc.1' }, 'v1.2.3-rc.1'],
+    [pkg, 'v1.2.4'],
+    [pkg, 'main'],
+    [pkg, 'v1.2.3', { version: '1.2.2', packages: { '': { version: '1.2.2' } } }],
+  ])
+    assert.throws(() => validateRelease(candidate, tag, lock))
+  assert.equal(
+    validateRelease(pkg, 'v1.2.3', { version: '1.2.3', packages: { '': { version: '1.2.3' } } }),
+    '1.2.3',
+  )
+})
+test('only a registry 404 permits publication; 200 is immutable', async () => {
+  assert.equal(await registryState(pkg, async () => ({ status: 404 })), 'new')
+  assert.equal(
+    await registryState(pkg, async () => ({ status: 200, json: async () => pkg })),
+    'published',
+  )
+  for (const status of [401, 403, 429, 500, 503]) {
+    await assert.rejects(registryState(pkg, async () => ({ status })))
+  }
+  await assert.rejects(
+    registryState(pkg, async () => {
+      throw new Error('timeout')
+    }),
+  )
+  await assert.rejects(
+    registryState(pkg, async () => ({
+      status: 200,
+      json: async () => ({ ...pkg, version: '9.9.9' }),
+    })),
+  )
+})
+
+test('CLI validates real repository metadata and fails invalid fixture releases', () => {
+  const script = fileURLToPath(new URL('./release-check.mjs', import.meta.url))
+  const repo = resolve(dirname(script), '..')
+  const actual = JSON.parse(readFileSync(resolve(repo, 'package.json'), 'utf8'))
+  assert.equal(spawnSync(process.execPath, [script, `v${actual.version}`], { cwd: repo }).status, 0)
+  const directory = mkdtempSync(resolve(tmpdir(), 'release-guard-'))
+  try {
+    const output = resolve(directory, 'output')
+    const run = (candidate, tag, lock) => {
+      writeFileSync(resolve(directory, 'package.json'), JSON.stringify(candidate))
+      if (lock) writeFileSync(resolve(directory, 'package-lock.json'), JSON.stringify(lock))
+      else rmSync(resolve(directory, 'package-lock.json'), { force: true })
+      return spawnSync(process.execPath, [script, tag], {
+        cwd: directory,
+        env: { ...process.env, GITHUB_OUTPUT: output },
+      })
+    }
+    assert.equal(run(pkg, 'v1.2.3').status, 0)
+    assert.match(readFileSync(output, 'utf8'), /package_version=1.2.3\nshould_publish=true/)
+    assert.equal(run(pkg, 'v1.2.4').status, 1)
+    assert.equal(run({ ...pkg, private: true }, 'v1.2.3').status, 1)
+    assert.equal(
+      run(pkg, 'v1.2.3', { version: '1.2.2', packages: { '': { version: '1.2.2' } } }).status,
+      1,
+    )
+  } finally {
+    rmSync(directory, { recursive: true, force: true })
+  }
+})
diff --git a/scripts/release-check.mjs b/scripts/release-check.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..914a643
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/release-check.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import { appendFileSync, readFileSync } from 'node:fs'
+import { pathToFileURL } from 'node:url'
+
+export function validateRelease(pkg, tag, lock) {
+  if (pkg.private) throw new Error('Private packages cannot be published')
+  if (!pkg.name || !/^\d+\.\d+\.\d+$/.test(pkg.version)) {
+    throw new Error('A stable package name and version are required')
+  }
+  if (tag !== `v${pkg.version}`) {
+    throw new Error('Release tag must match package.json version')
+  }
+  if (lock && (lock.version !== pkg.version || lock.packages?.['']?.version !== pkg.version)) {
+    throw new Error('Root package-lock version must match package.json')
+  }
+  return pkg.version
+}
+
+export async function registryState(pkg, request = fetch) {
+  const url = `https://registry.npmjs.org/${encodeURIComponent(pkg.name)}/${pkg.version}`
+  const response = await request(url, { signal: AbortSignal.timeout(15000) })
+  if (response.status === 404) return 'new'
+  if (response.status === 200) {
+    const published = await response.json()
+    if (published.name !== pkg.name || published.version !== pkg.version) {
+      throw new Error('Registry returned inconsistent package metadata')
+    }
+    return 'published'
+  }
+  throw new Error(`Registry lookup failed (HTTP ${response.status}); publication stopped`)
+}
+
+if (process.argv[1] && import.meta.url === pathToFileURL(process.argv[1]).href) {
+  try {
+    const pkg = JSON.parse(readFileSync('package.json', 'utf8'))
+    let lock
+    try {
+      lock = JSON.parse(readFileSync('package-lock.json', 'utf8'))
+    } catch (error) {
+      if (error.code !== 'ENOENT') throw error
+    }
+    const version = validateRelease(pkg, process.argv[2], lock)
+    const state = process.argv.includes('--registry') ? await registryState(pkg) : 'unchecked'
+    console.log(`Validated ${pkg.name}@${version}; registry: ${state}`)
+    if (process.env.GITHUB_OUTPUT) {
+      appendFileSync(
+        process.env.GITHUB_OUTPUT,
+        `package_version=${version}\nshould_publish=${state !== 'published'}\n`,
+      )
+    }
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error(error.message)
+    process.exitCode = 1
+  }
+}