diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 600f1c0..ee5bac6 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -150,6 +150,46 @@ for a full audit or `--fast` for pre-commit speed. Bypass with `--no-verify`
   session. The pre-commit hook blocks commits while any task remains unchecked.
 - Clear WORKING.md before responding to the user.
 
+## Rolling HUD (session-scoped, NOT persisted)
+
+The rolling HUD is a **live status display** the agent maintains throughout
+the session to help the human follow along. It is NOT a system of record —
+Redmine, Discourse, and git are the durable systems. The HUD exists purely
+for the human's situational awareness during the session.
+
+- **Format:** a compact block shown at the end of each significant response
+  (after completing a step, hitting a blocker, or pivoting). Example:
+
+  ```
+  ┌─ SESSION HUD ────────────────────────────────────────
+  │ Active: #343 (Monitoring coverage matrix)
+  │ Done:   ✓ scope-alignment gate added to both AGENTS.md
+  │         ✓ committed + pushed (6a2550b)
+  │ Now:    drafting coverage matrix on Discourse
+  │ Next:   → #341 TEMPer USB (deploy on pfv-tsys1)
+  │         → #338 LibreNMS alerts (BLOCKED: pushover.env)
+  ├─ USER ACTION ITEMS ──────────────────────────────────
+  │ • Populate ~/.creds/pushover.env (unblocks #338, #428)
+  │ • Populate ~/.creds/prometheus.env + grafana.env (#430)
+  └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+  ```
+
+- **Placement:** may be written to `.crush/hud.md` on disk to keep context
+  window smaller (re-read and update rather than hold in memory). Never
+  committed to git. Wiped at session end.
+- **Sections:**
+  - **Active:** current ticket number + one-line description
+  - **Done:** ✓ items completed this session (append as work progresses)
+  - **Now:** what the agent is actively doing
+  - **Next:** the queued items (per handoff priority or user direction)
+  - **User action items:** things ONLY the user can do (populate creds,
+    physical work, manual deploys) with the tickets they unblock
+- **When to show it:** after each logical unit of work, at blockers, and
+    when pivoting between tickets. Not every trivial response — use judgment.
+- **NOT a substitute for Redmine/Discourse/git.** The HUD is ephemeral. When
+    work completes, update the durable systems (ticket notes, Discourse wiki,
+    commits). The HUD just tracks the live narrative for the human.
+
 ## Working Style
 
 - **Stop over-thinking.** Get to code and output faster. Explore with code;