diff --git a/.github/scripts/bot-assignment-fresh-issue.test.js b/.github/scripts/bot-assignment-fresh-issue.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1a2848cac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/scripts/bot-assignment-fresh-issue.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,195 @@
+// Regression coverage for stale issue_comment payloads: the bots must refetch issue state before assigning.
+
+const { describe, it } = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+
+const runGfiAssignBot = require('./bot-gfi-assign-on-comment.js');
+const runBeginnerAssignBot = require('./bot-beginner-assign-on-comment.js');
+
+function createContext({ labelName, payloadAssignees = [], freshLabels, freshAssignees = [], freshState = 'open' }) {
+  const labels = [{ name: labelName }];
+
+  return {
+    repo: {
+      owner: 'hiero-ledger',
+      repo: 'hiero-sdk-python',
+    },
+    payload: {
+      repository: {
+        owner: { login: 'hiero-ledger' },
+        name: 'hiero-sdk-python',
+      },
+      issue: {
+        number: 123,
+        labels,
+        assignees: payloadAssignees,
+      },
+      comment: {
+        body: '/assign',
+        user: {
+          login: 'new-contributor',
+          type: 'User',
+        },
+      },
+    },
+    freshIssue: {
+      number: 123,
+      title: 'Example issue',
+      state: freshState,
+      labels: freshLabels ?? labels,
+      assignees: freshAssignees,
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+function createGithubMock(context, { freshIssueError } = {}) {
+  const calls = {
+    comments: [],
+    assignees: [],
+  };
+
+  const github = {
+    rest: {
+      issues: {
+        get: async () => {
+          if (freshIssueError) {
+            throw freshIssueError;
+          }
+          return { data: context.freshIssue };
+        },
+        createComment: async (params) => {
+          calls.comments.push(params);
+          return { data: {} };
+        },
+        addAssignees: async (params) => {
+          calls.assignees.push(params);
+          return { data: {} };
+        },
+      },
+    },
+    paginate: async () => [],
+    graphql: async () => ({ search: { issueCount: 1 } }),
+  };
+
+  return { github, calls };
+}
+
+describe('assignment bots use fresh issue state before assigning', () => {
+  it('GFI bot does not assign when webhook payload is stale but issue is now assigned', async () => {
+    const context = createContext({
+      labelName: 'Good First Issue',
+      payloadAssignees: [],
+      freshAssignees: [{ login: 'current-assignee' }],
+    });
+    const { github, calls } = createGithubMock(context);
+
+    await runGfiAssignBot({ github, context });
+
+    assert.equal(calls.assignees.length, 0);
+    assert.equal(calls.comments.length, 1);
+    assert.match(calls.comments[0].body, /already assigned/i);
+    assert.match(calls.comments[0].body, /@current-assignee/);
+  });
+
+  it('GFI bot exits safely when fresh issue fetch fails before assignment', async () => {
+    const context = createContext({
+      labelName: 'Good First Issue',
+      payloadAssignees: [],
+    });
+    const { github, calls } = createGithubMock(context, {
+      freshIssueError: Object.assign(new Error('GitHub API unavailable'), { status: 503 }),
+    });
+
+    await runGfiAssignBot({ github, context });
+
+    assert.equal(calls.assignees.length, 0);
+    assert.equal(calls.comments.length, 0);
+  });
+
+  it('GFI bot exits when the fresh issue is no longer a Good First Issue', async () => {
+    const context = createContext({
+      labelName: 'Good First Issue',
+      payloadAssignees: [],
+      freshLabels: [{ name: 'help wanted' }],
+    });
+    const { github, calls } = createGithubMock(context);
+
+    await runGfiAssignBot({ github, context });
+
+    assert.equal(calls.assignees.length, 0);
+    assert.equal(calls.comments.length, 0);
+  });
+
+  it('GFI bot exits when the fresh issue is closed before assignment', async () => {
+    const context = createContext({
+      labelName: 'Good First Issue',
+      payloadAssignees: [],
+      freshState: 'closed',
+    });
+    const { github, calls } = createGithubMock(context);
+
+    await runGfiAssignBot({ github, context });
+
+    assert.equal(calls.assignees.length, 0);
+    assert.equal(calls.comments.length, 0);
+  });
+
+  it('beginner bot does not assign when webhook payload is stale but issue is now assigned', async () => {
+    const context = createContext({
+      labelName: 'skill: beginner',
+      payloadAssignees: [],
+      freshAssignees: [{ login: 'current-assignee' }],
+    });
+    const { github, calls } = createGithubMock(context);
+
+    await runBeginnerAssignBot({ github, context });
+
+    assert.equal(calls.assignees.length, 0);
+    assert.equal(calls.comments.length, 1);
+    assert.match(calls.comments[0].body, /already assigned/i);
+    assert.match(calls.comments[0].body, /@current-assignee/);
+  });
+
+  it('beginner bot exits safely when fresh issue fetch fails before assignment', async () => {
+    const context = createContext({
+      labelName: 'skill: beginner',
+      payloadAssignees: [],
+    });
+    const { github, calls } = createGithubMock(context, {
+      freshIssueError: Object.assign(new Error('GitHub API unavailable'), { status: 503 }),
+    });
+
+    await runBeginnerAssignBot({ github, context });
+
+    assert.equal(calls.assignees.length, 0);
+    assert.equal(calls.comments.length, 0);
+  });
+
+  it('beginner bot exits when the fresh issue no longer has the beginner label', async () => {
+    const context = createContext({
+      labelName: 'skill: beginner',
+      payloadAssignees: [],
+      freshLabels: [{ name: 'help wanted' }],
+    });
+    const { github, calls } = createGithubMock(context);
+
+    await runBeginnerAssignBot({ github, context });
+
+    assert.equal(calls.assignees.length, 0);
+    assert.equal(calls.comments.length, 0);
+  });
+
+  it('beginner bot exits when the fresh issue is closed before assignment', async () => {
+    const context = createContext({
+      labelName: 'skill: beginner',
+      payloadAssignees: [],
+      freshState: 'closed',
+    });
+    const { github, calls } = createGithubMock(context);
+
+    await runBeginnerAssignBot({ github, context });
+
+    assert.equal(calls.assignees.length, 0);
+    assert.equal(calls.comments.length, 0);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/.github/scripts/bot-beginner-assign-on-comment.js b/.github/scripts/bot-beginner-assign-on-comment.js
index 866be76c3..6dd2dadb4 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/bot-beginner-assign-on-comment.js
+++ b/.github/scripts/bot-beginner-assign-on-comment.js
@@ -96,6 +96,27 @@ async function countCompletedGfiIssues(github, owner, repo, username) {
   return result?.search?.issueCount ?? 0;
 }
 
+function issueHasBeginnerLabel(issue) {
+  const beginnerLabel = BEGINNER_LABEL.toLowerCase();
+  return Array.isArray(issue?.labels) && issue.labels.some((label) => label.name?.toLowerCase() === beginnerLabel);
+}
+
+async function getFreshIssue(github, owner, repo, issueNumber) {
+  const { data } = await github.rest.issues.get({
+    owner,
+    repo,
+    issue_number: issueNumber,
+  });
+
+  return data;
+}
+
+function buildAlreadyAssignedComment({ commenter, issue, repo }) {
+  const currentAssignee = issue.assignees?.[0]?.login ?? "another contributor";
+
+  return `👋 Hi @${commenter}, thanks for your interest! This issue is already assigned to @${currentAssignee}, but we'd love your help on another one. You can find more "${BEGINNER_LABEL}" issues [here](https://github.com/${repo.owner.login}/${repo.name}/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+label%3A%22${encodeURIComponent(BEGINNER_LABEL)}%22+no%3Aassignee).`;
+}
+
 module.exports = async ({ github, context }) => {
   try {
     const { payload } = context;
@@ -116,8 +137,7 @@ module.exports = async ({ github, context }) => {
     }
 
     // 2. Label Check (Fix 2: Defensive Check)
-    const beginnerLabel = BEGINNER_LABEL.toLowerCase();
-    const hasBeginnerLabel = Array.isArray(issue.labels) && issue.labels.some((label) => label.name?.toLowerCase() === beginnerLabel);
+    const hasBeginnerLabel = issueHasBeginnerLabel(issue);
     if (!hasBeginnerLabel) {
       console.log(`[Beginner Bot] Issue #${issue.number} does not have '${BEGINNER_LABEL}' label. Exiting.`);
       return;
@@ -258,12 +278,11 @@ Please try a GFI first, then come back — we’ll be happy to assign this! 😊
       // --- ASSIGNMENT LOGIC ---
       if (issue.assignees && issue.assignees.length > 0) {
         try{
-          const currentAssignee = issue.assignees[0]?.login ?? "another contributor";
           await github.rest.issues.createComment({
             owner: repo.owner.login,
             repo: repo.name,
             issue_number: issue.number,
-            body: `👋 Hi @${commenter}, thanks for your interest! This issue is already assigned to @${currentAssignee}, but we'd love your help on another one. You can find more "${BEGINNER_LABEL}" issues [here](https://github.com/${repo.owner.login}/${repo.name}/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+label%3A%22${encodeURIComponent(BEGINNER_LABEL)}%22+no%3Aassignee).`,
+            body: buildAlreadyAssignedComment({ commenter, issue, repo }),
           });
         } catch (error) {
           console.error("[Beginner Bot] Failed to post already-assigned message:", {
@@ -325,7 +344,53 @@ Please try a GFI first, then come back — we’ll be happy to assign this! 😊
         return;
       }
 
-      console.log(`[Beginner Bot] Assigning issue #${issue.number} to @${commenter}...`);
+      console.log(`[Beginner Bot] Checking current issue state before assigning #${issue.number} to @${commenter}...`);
+
+      let currentIssue;
+      try {
+        currentIssue = await getFreshIssue(
+          github,
+          repo.owner.login,
+          repo.name,
+          issue.number
+        );
+      } catch (error) {
+        console.error("[Beginner Bot] Failed to fetch current issue state before assignment:", {
+          issue: issue.number,
+          commenter,
+          message: error.message,
+          status: error.status,
+        });
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (!issueHasBeginnerLabel(currentIssue)) {
+        console.log(`[Beginner Bot] Issue #${issue.number} no longer has '${BEGINNER_LABEL}' label. Exiting.`);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (currentIssue.state !== "open") {
+        console.log(`[Beginner Bot] Issue #${issue.number} is '${currentIssue.state}'. Exiting.`);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (currentIssue.assignees && currentIssue.assignees.length > 0) {
+        try{
+          await github.rest.issues.createComment({
+            owner: repo.owner.login,
+            repo: repo.name,
+            issue_number: issue.number,
+            body: buildAlreadyAssignedComment({ commenter, issue: currentIssue, repo }),
+          });
+        } catch (error) {
+          console.error("[Beginner Bot] Failed to post already-assigned message:", {
+            issue: issue.number,
+            commenter,
+            message: error.message,
+          });
+        }
+        return;
+      }
 
       // Fix 4: Granular Try/Catch for Assign API
       try {
diff --git a/.github/scripts/bot-gfi-assign-on-comment.js b/.github/scripts/bot-gfi-assign-on-comment.js
index 95328e603..533f67bec 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/bot-gfi-assign-on-comment.js
+++ b/.github/scripts/bot-gfi-assign-on-comment.js
@@ -86,6 +86,16 @@ function getCurrentAssigneeMention(issue) {
     return login ? `@${login}` : 'someone';
 }
 
+async function getFreshIssue({ github, owner, repo, issueNumber }) {
+    const { data } = await github.rest.issues.get({
+        owner,
+        repo,
+        issue_number: issueNumber,
+    });
+
+    return data;
+}
+
 /**
  * Builds a comment explaining that the issue is already assigned.
  * Requester username is passed from main
@@ -361,7 +371,54 @@ module.exports = async ({ github, context }) => {
             return;
         }
 
-        console.log('[gfi-assign] Assigning issue to requester');
+        console.log('[gfi-assign] Checking current issue state before assignment');
+
+        let currentIssue;
+        try {
+            currentIssue = await getFreshIssue({
+                github,
+                owner,
+                repo,
+                issueNumber,
+            });
+        } catch (error) {
+            console.error('[gfi-assign] Failed to fetch current issue state before assignment:', {
+                message: error.message,
+                status: error.status,
+                owner,
+                repo,
+                issueNumber,
+                requesterUsername,
+            });
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (!issueIsGoodFirstIssue(currentIssue)) {
+            console.log('[gfi-assign] Exit: current issue state is no longer a Good First Issue');
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (currentIssue.state !== 'open') {
+            console.log('[gfi-assign] Exit: current issue state is not open', {
+                issueNumber,
+                state: currentIssue.state,
+            });
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (currentIssue.assignees?.length > 0) {
+            console.log('[gfi-assign] Exit: current issue state is already assigned');
+
+            await github.rest.issues.createComment({
+                owner,
+                repo,
+                issue_number: issueNumber,
+                body: commentAlreadyAssigned(requesterUsername, currentIssue),
+            });
+
+            console.log('[gfi-assign] Posted already-assigned comment from current issue state');
+            return;
+        }
 
         // All validations passed and user has requested assignment on a GFI
         // Assign the issue to the requester
@@ -409,7 +466,7 @@ module.exports = async ({ github, context }) => {
                 if (planExists) {
                     console.log('[gfi-assign] CodeRabbit plan already exists, skipping');
                 } else {
-                    await triggerCodeRabbitPlan(github, owner, repo, issue);
+                    await triggerCodeRabbitPlan(github, owner, repo, currentIssue);
                     console.log('[gfi-assign] CodeRabbit plan chained successfully');
                 }
             } catch (error) {