diff --git a/services/arbiter-3.0/src/index.js b/services/arbiter-3.0/src/index.js
index b6993f2..adc6d5f 100644
--- a/services/arbiter-3.0/src/index.js
+++ b/services/arbiter-3.0/src/index.js
@@ -43,6 +43,15 @@ app.set('views', __dirname + '/views');
 app.use(expressLayouts);
 app.set('layout', 'layout'); // Default layout is views/layout.ejs
 
+// HTMX Middleware: Disable layout wrapper for HTMX AJAX requests
+// HTMX sends HX-Request header - these requests need raw HTML fragments, not full layout
+app.use((req, res, next) => {
+  if (req.headers['hx-request']) {
+    res.locals.layout = false;
+  }
+  next();
+});
+
 // CRITICAL: Stripe webhook needs raw body BEFORE express.json() middleware
 // Mounted at /webhooks/stripe to avoid conflict with /stripe checkout mount
 app.use('/webhooks/stripe', stripeRoutes);