diff --git a/app/api/schemas/templates.py b/app/api/schemas/templates.py
index 6a1cdd0..1ea8ff6 100644
--- a/app/api/schemas/templates.py
+++ b/app/api/schemas/templates.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ class TemplateCreate(BaseModel):
 
 class TemplateUpdate(BaseModel):
     name: str | None = None
+    description: str | None = None
     fields: dict | None = None
 
 
diff --git a/app/services/template.py b/app/services/template.py
index 4c9e6fe..797b603 100644
--- a/app/services/template.py
+++ b/app/services/template.py
@@ -218,6 +218,8 @@ def update_template(
         # Only the fields sent are changed; pdf_path stays as it was.
         if changes.name is not None:
             template.name = changes.name
+        if changes.description is not None:
+            template.description = changes.description
         if changes.fields is not None:
             template.fields = changes.fields
         updated = update_template(session, template)
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index 8608182..7f36dcc 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -210,6 +210,47 @@ def test_update_template(self, client, mock_controller):
         assert resp.json()["field_count"] == 2
         assert client.get(f"{API_PREFIX}/templates").json()[0]["name"] == "T2"
 
+    def test_update_template_description(self, client, db, mock_controller):
+        """PUT /templates/{id} persists a new description."""
+        tpl = Template(
+            name="ICS 205",
+            description="Original radio plan",
+            pdf_path="a.pdf",
+            fields={"f": "string"},
+        )
+        db.add(tpl)
+        db.commit()
+        db.refresh(tpl)
+
+        resp = client.put(
+            f"{API_PREFIX}/templates/{tpl.id}",
+            json={"description": "Updated ICS 205 radio plan"},
+        )
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        assert resp.json()["description"] == "Updated ICS 205 radio plan"
+        assert resp.json()["name"] == "ICS 205"
+        assert resp.json()["fields"] == {"f": "string"}
+        assert client.get(f"{API_PREFIX}/templates").json()[0]["description"] == (
+            "Updated ICS 205 radio plan"
+        )
+
+    def test_update_keeps_description_when_omitted(self, client, db, mock_controller):
+        """A name-only PUT must not clear an existing description."""
+        tpl = Template(
+            name="ICS 205",
+            description="Keep this comms plan",
+            pdf_path="a.pdf",
+            fields={"f": "string"},
+        )
+        db.add(tpl)
+        db.commit()
+        db.refresh(tpl)
+
+        resp = client.put(f"{API_PREFIX}/templates/{tpl.id}", json={"name": "ICS 205A"})
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        assert resp.json()["name"] == "ICS 205A"
+        assert resp.json()["description"] == "Keep this comms plan"
+
     def test_update_missing_template(self, client):
         resp = client.put(f"{API_PREFIX}/templates/9999", json={"name": "T2"})
         assert resp.status_code == 404
@@ -301,6 +342,37 @@ def test_fill_form_with_direct_input_text(self, client, mock_controller, db, tmp
         assert fetched.input_text == "Direct incident text narrative from user."
         assert fetched.input_id is not None
 
+    def test_fill_form_uses_description_from_update(
+        self, client, mock_controller, db, tmp_path, monkeypatch
+    ):
+        """A description saved via PUT /templates/{id} reaches the filler."""
+        monkeypatch.setattr("app.core.paths.PROJECT_ROOT", tmp_path)
+        pdf_file = tmp_path / "ics_205.pdf"
+        pdf_file.write_bytes(b"%PDF-1.4 fake")
+        tpl = Template(
+            name="ICS 205",
+            description="",
+            pdf_path="ics_205.pdf",
+            fields={"Incident Name": "string"},
+        )
+        db.add(tpl)
+        db.commit()
+        db.refresh(tpl)
+
+        updated = client.put(
+            f"{API_PREFIX}/templates/{tpl.id}",
+            json={"description": "Incident radio communications plan"},
+        )
+        assert updated.status_code == 200
+        assert updated.json()["description"] == "Incident radio communications plan"
+
+        resp = client.post(
+            f"{API_PREFIX}/forms/fill",
+            json={
+                "template_id": tpl.id,
+                "input_text": "Command uses channel 3 for the Oak Ridge fire.",
+            },
+        )
     def test_fill_form_uses_description_from_create(self, client, mock_controller, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
         """The description given to POST /templates/create reaches the filler."""
         monkeypatch.setattr("app.core.paths.PROJECT_ROOT", tmp_path)