diff --git a/src/lib/components/WipTaskList.svelte b/src/lib/components/WipTaskList.svelte
index b20379d..02904be 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/WipTaskList.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/WipTaskList.svelte
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-  import { tasks, addTask, completeTask, uncompleteTask, deleteTask, setTaskEnergy } from '$lib/stores/page.svelte.js';
+  import { addTask, completeTask, uncompleteTask, deleteTask, setTaskEnergy } from '$lib/stores/page.svelte.js';
+  import type { TaskEntry } from '$lib/types/app';
   import MicroSteps from '$lib/components/MicroSteps.svelte';
   import EnergyChip from '$lib/components/EnergyChip.svelte';
   import { ChevronDown, ChevronRight, Timer } from 'lucide-svelte';
@@ -10,14 +11,26 @@
     }));
   }
 
-  let { wipLimit = 3 } = $props();
+  // PR 1.2: the Now lane no longer reads the global tasks store. The
+  // parent passes an already-filtered `tasks` array (respecting the
+  // active bucket, list, search, and energy sort) so the Now lane and
+  // the bucket list below share one filtered set as source of truth.
+  // Subtasks are still excluded here — that is a Now-lane invariant,
+  // not a filter the parent owns.
+  let {
+    tasks = [],
+    wipLimit = 3,
+  }: {
+    tasks?: TaskEntry[];
+    wipLimit?: number;
+  } = $props();
 
   let newTaskText = $state('');
   let showOverflow = $state(false);
   let expandedTaskIds = $state(new Set<string>());
 
   // Exclude subtasks from WIP count — only top-level tasks count
-  let activeTasks = $derived(tasks.filter(t => !t.done && !t.parentTaskId));
+  let activeTasks = $derived(tasks.filter((t) => !t.done && !t.parentTaskId));
   let visibleTasks = $derived(activeTasks.slice(0, wipLimit));
   let overflowTasks = $derived(activeTasks.slice(wipLimit));
   let hasOverflow = $derived(overflowTasks.length > 0);
diff --git a/src/lib/pages/TasksPage.svelte b/src/lib/pages/TasksPage.svelte
index 3e8377f..805feb0 100644
--- a/src/lib/pages/TasksPage.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/pages/TasksPage.svelte
@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@
   import { formatTimestamp } from "$lib/utils/time.js";
   import { BUCKET_COLORS, EFFORT_LABELS, EFFORT_ORDER } from "$lib/utils/constants.js";
 
-  let activeBucket = $state("all");
+  // PR 1.2: default landing bucket is Today rather than All. The cold-open
+  // surface area for "what should I do now?" is now scoped to today's
+  // commitments, with All still reachable as a one-click filter.
+  let activeBucket = $state("today");
   let activeListId = $state("all");
   let showCompleted = $state(false);
   let quickInput = $state("");
@@ -94,6 +97,20 @@
     return list;
   });
 
+  // PR 1.2: the Now lane consumes the same filtered set as the bucket
+  // list so its rows respect the active bucket / list / search / sort.
+  // We compute the rendered slice here (top-level, capped at wipLimit)
+  // and exclude those IDs from the bucket list — no row appears twice.
+  // Computing in the parent (rather than via callback) avoids a
+  // first-paint flash where both panels briefly render the same row
+  // before an effect reconciles them.
+  const NOW_LANE_LIMIT = 3;
+  let nowLaneTasks = $derived(
+    filteredTasks.filter((t) => !t.parentTaskId).slice(0, NOW_LANE_LIMIT),
+  );
+  let nowLaneIds = $derived(new Set(nowLaneTasks.map((t) => t.id)));
+  let bucketListTasks = $derived(filteredTasks.filter((t) => !nowLaneIds.has(t.id)));
+
   function cycleCurrentEnergy(next: EnergyLevel | null) {
     settings.currentEnergy = next;
     saveSettings();
@@ -580,6 +597,16 @@
 
     <!-- Task list -->
     <div class="flex-1 overflow-y-auto min-h-0">
+      <!-- PR 1.2: Now lane sits above the bucket list and shares its
+           filtered set. The bucket list excludes whatever IDs the lane
+           rendered, so a task is never shown in both. The lane is only
+           mounted when it has something to show — when the filter is
+           empty, the EmptyState below carries onboarding copy alone. -->
+      {#if nowLaneTasks.length > 0}
+        <div class="mb-3">
+          <WipTaskList tasks={nowLaneTasks} wipLimit={NOW_LANE_LIMIT} />
+        </div>
+      {/if}
       {#if filteredTasks.length === 0}
         <EmptyState
           icon={SquareCheck}
@@ -587,9 +614,9 @@
             ? "No matching tasks"
             : "Add tasks manually. Automatic extraction from your transcripts is coming."}
         />
-      {:else}
+      {:else if bucketListTasks.length > 0}
         <div class="flex flex-col gap-1">
-          {#each filteredTasks as task (task.id)}
+          {#each bucketListTasks as task (task.id)}
             <div class="group flex items-start gap-3 p-3 rounded-xl bg-bg-card border border-border-subtle hover:border-border"
               style="transition-duration: var(--duration-ui)">
               <!-- Checkbox -->