diff --git a/integration-tests/bats/commit_verification.bats b/integration-tests/bats/commit_verification.bats
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..eff1876a72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/integration-tests/bats/commit_verification.bats
@@ -0,0 +1,262 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bats
+load $BATS_TEST_DIRNAME/helper/common.bash
+
+setup() {
+    setup_common
+    
+    dolt sql <<SQL
+CREATE TABLE users (
+    id INT PRIMARY KEY,
+    name VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
+    email VARCHAR(100)
+);
+INSERT INTO users VALUES (1, 'Alice', 'alice@example.com');
+CALL DOLT_ADD('.');
+CALL DOLT_COMMIT('-m', 'Initial commit');
+SQL
+}
+
+getHeadHash() {
+  run dolt sql -r csv -q "select commit_hash from dolt_log limit 1 offset 0;"
+  [ "$status" -eq 0 ] || return 1
+  echo "${lines[1]}"
+}
+
+@test "commit verification: system variables can be set" {
+    run dolt sql -q "SET GLOBAL dolt_commit_run_test_groups = '*'"
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+    
+    run dolt sql -q "SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES LIKE 'dolt_commit_run_test_groups'"
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "*" ]]
+}
+
+@test "commit verification: commit with tests enabled - all tests pass" {
+    dolt sql -q "SET GLOBAL dolt_commit_run_test_groups = '*'"
+    
+    dolt sql <<SQL
+INSERT INTO dolt_tests (test_name, test_group, test_query, assertion_type, assertion_comparator, assertion_value) VALUES 
+('test_users_count', 'unit', 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users', 'expected_single_value', '==', '1'),
+('test_alice_exists', 'unit', 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users WHERE name = "Alice"', 'expected_single_value', '==', '1');
+SQL
+
+    dolt add .
+    
+    run dolt commit -m "Commit with passing tests"
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+}
+
+@test "commit verification: abort commit, then skip verification to bypass" {
+    dolt sql -q "SET GLOBAL dolt_commit_run_test_groups = '*'"
+    
+    dolt sql <<SQL
+INSERT INTO dolt_tests (test_name, test_group, test_query, assertion_type, assertion_comparator, assertion_value) VALUES 
+('test_will_fail', 'unit', 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users', 'expected_single_value', '==', '999');
+SQL
+
+    dolt add .
+    
+    run dolt commit -m "Commit that should fail validation"
+    [ "$status" -ne 0 ]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "commit validation failed" ]]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "test_will_fail" ]]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "Expected '999' but got '1'" ]]
+
+    run dolt commit --skip-verification -m "Skip verification commit"
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+}
+
+@test "commit verification: specific test groups - only specified groups run" {
+    # Set up test validation for unit tests only
+    dolt sql -q "SET GLOBAL dolt_commit_run_test_groups = 'unit'"
+    
+    # Add tests in different groups
+    dolt sql <<SQL
+INSERT INTO dolt_tests (test_name, test_group, test_query, assertion_type, assertion_comparator, assertion_value) VALUES 
+('test_users_unit', 'unit', 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users', 'expected_single_value', '==', '1'),
+('test_users_integration', 'integration', 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users', 'expected_single_value', '==', '999');
+SQL
+
+    dolt add .
+    
+    # Commit should succeed because only unit tests run (integration test that would fail is ignored)
+    run dolt commit -m "Commit with unit tests only"
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+}
+
+@test "commit verification: no tests configured - no validation occurs" {
+    dolt sql -q "SET GLOBAL dolt_commit_run_test_groups = '*'"
+    
+    dolt add .
+    
+    run dolt commit -m "Commit without dolt_tests"
+    [ "$status" -ne 0 ]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "could not find tests for argument" ]]
+}
+
+@test "commit verification: merge with tests enabled - tests pass" {
+    dolt sql -q "SET GLOBAL dolt_commit_run_test_groups = '*'"
+    
+    dolt sql <<SQL
+INSERT INTO dolt_tests (test_name, test_group, test_query, assertion_type, assertion_comparator, assertion_value) VALUES 
+('test_alice_exists', 'unit', 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users WHERE name = "Alice"', 'expected_single_value', '==', '1');
+SQL
+    dolt add .
+    dolt commit -m "Initial commit"
+    
+    dolt checkout -b feature
+    dolt sql -q "INSERT INTO users VALUES (2, 'Bob', 'bob@example.com')"
+    dolt sql <<SQL
+INSERT INTO dolt_tests (test_name, test_group, test_query, assertion_type, assertion_comparator, assertion_value) VALUES 
+('test_bob_exists', 'unit', 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users WHERE name = "Bob"', 'expected_single_value', '==', '1');
+SQL
+    dolt add .
+    dolt commit -m "Add Bob"
+    
+    dolt checkout main
+    run dolt merge feature
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+}
+
+@test "commit verification: merge with tests enabled - tests fail, merge aborted" {
+    dolt sql -q "SET GLOBAL dolt_commit_run_test_groups = '*'"
+    
+    dolt sql <<SQL
+INSERT INTO dolt_tests (test_name, test_group, test_query, assertion_type, assertion_comparator, assertion_value) VALUES 
+('test_will_fail', 'unit', 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users', 'expected_single_value', '==', '999');
+SQL
+    dolt add .
+    dolt commit --skip-verification -m "Initial commit with failing test"
+    
+    dolt checkout -b feature
+    dolt sql -q "INSERT INTO users VALUES (2, 'Bob', 'bob@example.com')"
+    dolt add .
+    dolt commit --skip-verification -m "Add Bob"
+    
+    # Add Charlie to main to force non-fast-forward merge
+    dolt checkout main
+    dolt sql -q "INSERT INTO users VALUES (3, 'Charlie', 'charlie@example.com')"
+    dolt add .
+    dolt commit --skip-verification -m "Add Charlie"
+    
+    run dolt merge feature
+    [ "$status" -ne 0 ]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "commit validation failed" ]]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "test_will_fail" ]]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "Expected '999' but got '3'" ]]
+
+    run dolt merge --skip-verification feature
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+}
+
+@test "commit verification: cherry-pick with tests enabled - tests pass" {
+    dolt sql -q "SET GLOBAL dolt_commit_run_test_groups = '*'"
+    
+    dolt sql <<SQL
+INSERT INTO dolt_tests (test_name, test_group, test_query, assertion_type, assertion_comparator, assertion_value) VALUES 
+('test_user_count_update', 'unit', 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users', 'expected_single_value', '==', '1');
+SQL
+    dolt add .
+    dolt commit --skip-verification -m "Add test"
+    
+    dolt checkout -b feature
+    dolt sql -q "INSERT INTO users VALUES (2, 'Bob', 'bob@example.com')"
+    dolt sql -q "UPDATE dolt_tests SET assertion_value = '2' WHERE test_name = 'test_user_count_update'"
+    dolt add .
+    dolt commit --skip-verification -m "Add Bob and update test"
+    commit_hash=$(getHeadHash)
+    
+    dolt checkout main
+    run dolt cherry-pick $commit_hash
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+}
+
+@test "commit verification: cherry-pick with tests enabled - tests fail, aborted" {
+    dolt sql -q "SET GLOBAL dolt_commit_run_test_groups = '*'"
+    
+    dolt sql <<SQL
+INSERT INTO dolt_tests (test_name, test_group, test_query, assertion_type, assertion_comparator, assertion_value) VALUES 
+('test_users_count', 'unit', 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users', 'expected_single_value', '==', '1');
+SQL
+    dolt add .
+    dolt commit -m "Initial commit"
+    
+    dolt checkout -b feature
+    dolt sql -q "INSERT INTO users VALUES (2, 'Bob', 'bob@example.com')"
+    dolt add .
+    dolt commit --skip-verification -m "Add Bob but don't update test"
+    commit_hash=$(getHeadHash)
+    
+    dolt checkout main
+    run dolt cherry-pick $commit_hash
+    [ "$status" -ne 0 ]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "commit validation failed" ]]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "test_users_count" ]]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "Expected '1' but got '2'" ]]
+
+    run dolt cherry-pick --skip-verification $commit_hash
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+}
+
+@test "commit verification: rebase with tests enabled - tests pass" {
+    dolt sql -q "SET GLOBAL dolt_commit_run_test_groups = '*'"
+    
+    dolt sql <<SQL
+INSERT INTO dolt_tests (test_name, test_group, test_query, assertion_type, assertion_comparator, assertion_value) VALUES 
+('test_users_count', 'unit', 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users', 'expected_single_value', '==', '1');
+SQL
+    dolt add .
+    dolt commit -m "Initial commit"
+    
+    dolt sql -q "UPDATE users SET name = 'Zed' WHERE id = 1"
+    dolt commit -am "Update Alice to Zed"  # Tests still pass
+    
+    dolt checkout -b feature HEAD~1
+    dolt sql -q "INSERT INTO users VALUES (2, 'Bob', 'bob@example.com')"
+    dolt sql -q "UPDATE dolt_tests SET assertion_value = '2' WHERE test_name = 'test_users_count'"
+    dolt add .
+    dolt commit -m "Add Bob and update test"
+    
+    dolt sql -q "INSERT INTO users VALUES (3, 'Charlie', 'charlie@example.com')"
+    dolt sql -q "UPDATE dolt_tests SET assertion_value = '3' WHERE test_name = 'test_users_count'"
+    dolt add .
+    dolt commit -m "Add Charlie, update test"
+    
+    run dolt rebase main
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "Successfully rebased" ]]
+}
+
+@test "commit verification: rebase with tests enabled - tests fail, aborted" {
+    dolt sql -q "SET GLOBAL dolt_commit_run_test_groups = '*'"
+    
+    dolt sql <<SQL
+INSERT INTO dolt_tests (test_name, test_group, test_query, assertion_type, assertion_comparator, assertion_value) VALUES 
+('test_users_count', 'unit', 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users', 'expected_single_value', '==', '1');
+SQL
+    dolt add .
+    dolt commit -m "Initial commit"
+    
+    dolt checkout -b feature
+    dolt sql -q "INSERT INTO users VALUES (2, 'Bob', 'bob@example.com')"
+    dolt sql -q "UPDATE dolt_tests SET assertion_value = '2' WHERE test_name = 'test_users_count'"
+    dolt add .
+    dolt commit -m "Add Bob and update test"
+    
+    dolt checkout main
+    dolt sql -q "INSERT INTO users VALUES (3, 'Charlie', 'charlie@example.com')"
+    dolt add .
+    dolt commit --skip-verification -m "Add Charlie"
+    
+    dolt checkout feature
+    
+    run dolt rebase main
+    [ "$status" -ne 0 ]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "commit validation failed" ]]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "test_users_count" ]]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "Expected '2' but got '3'" ]]
+
+    run dolt rebase --skip-verification main
+    [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+    [[ "$output" =~ "Successfully rebased" ]]
+}