diff --git a/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/test_rollout.py b/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/test_rollout.py
index deb30277bbc..cf9d35361b3 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/test_rollout.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/test_rollout.py
@@ -131,7 +131,13 @@ def test_repo_workflow_loads_code_from_its_own_commit(self) -> None:
         self.assertIn("code_ref:", body)
         self.assertEqual(body.count("inputs.code_ref"), 0)
         self.assertEqual(body.count("actions/checkout@"), 2)
-        self.assertEqual(body.count("path: live-config"), 2)
+        self.assertEqual(body.count("ref: ${{ github.sha }}"), 2)
+        self.assertNotIn("path: live-config", body)
+        self.assertNotIn("sparse-checkout:", body)
+        self.assertIn(
+            "DASHBOARD_CONFIG: .github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/repositories.json",
+            body,
+        )
         self.assertEqual(body.count("uses: $/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard"), 2)
         self.assertEqual(
             body.count("${{ steps.dashboard-code.outputs.path }}/.cache/classifications"),
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pull-request-dashboard-repo.yml b/.github/workflows/pull-request-dashboard-repo.yml
index a966bec58ad..22999061de9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pull-request-dashboard-repo.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pull-request-dashboard-repo.yml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ permissions:
   contents: read
 
 env:
-  DASHBOARD_CONFIG: live-config/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/repositories.json
+  DASHBOARD_CONFIG: .github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/repositories.json
   DASHBOARD_STATE_BRANCH_PREFIX: otelbot/pull-request-dashboard-state
 
 jobs:
@@ -45,19 +45,16 @@ jobs:
     outputs:
       initial_backfill_complete: ${{ steps.dashboard-update.outputs.initial_backfill_complete }}
     steps:
+      # `$` resolves this same-repository action from the reusable workflow's exact commit.
       - name: Load dashboard code
         id: dashboard-code
         uses: $/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard
 
-      # Repository configuration is deliberately read from the triggering
-      # commit: opting a repository in, or changing its settings, takes effect
-      # immediately on every rollout ref.
+      # The checkout supplies current repository configuration and the Git
+      # context used to manage dashboard state worktrees.
       - uses: actions/checkout@3d3c42e5aac5ba805825da76410c181273ba90b1 # v7.0.1
         with:
           ref: ${{ github.sha }}
-          path: live-config
-          sparse-checkout: .github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/repositories.json
-          sparse-checkout-cone-mode: false
           persist-credentials: false
 
       - name: Load repository configuration
@@ -234,19 +231,16 @@ jobs:
     env:
       PUBLISHER_LOCK_OWNER: ${{ github.run_id }}-${{ github.run_attempt }}-publish
     steps:
+      # `$` resolves this same-repository action from the reusable workflow's exact commit.
       - name: Load dashboard code
         id: dashboard-code
         uses: $/.github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard
 
-      # Repository configuration is deliberately read from the triggering
-      # commit: opting a repository in, or changing its settings, takes effect
-      # immediately on every rollout ref.
+      # The checkout supplies current repository configuration and the Git
+      # context used to manage dashboard state worktrees.
       - uses: actions/checkout@3d3c42e5aac5ba805825da76410c181273ba90b1 # v7.0.1
         with:
           ref: ${{ github.sha }}
-          path: live-config
-          sparse-checkout: .github/scripts/pull-request-dashboard/repositories.json
-          sparse-checkout-cone-mode: false
           persist-credentials: false
 
       - name: Load repository configuration