diff --git a/app/utils/notifications.py b/app/utils/notifications.py
index c5eff91..b23a856 100644
--- a/app/utils/notifications.py
+++ b/app/utils/notifications.py
@@ -219,20 +219,32 @@ def notify(
     )
 
     # ── 2. Send immediate email if applicable ────────────────────────────────
-    if send_email and not hold_for_digest:
+    if not send_email:
+        logger.info('EMAIL SKIP | user=%s | event=%s | reason=send_email_False',
+                    recipient.username, event_type)
+    elif hold_for_digest:
+        logger.info('EMAIL SKIP | user=%s | event=%s | reason=digest_mode',
+                    recipient.username, event_type)
+    else:
         if respect_preferences:
-            # Per-user opt-in/opt-out gate — used for direct notifications
-            # (issue assignment, SLA alerts, follower updates, etc.)
-            should_send = (
-                event_type is None or _email_enabled_for(recipient, event_type)
-            )
+            pref_enabled = _email_enabled_for(recipient, event_type)
+            should_send = (event_type is None or pref_enabled)
+            if not should_send:
+                logger.info('EMAIL SKIP | user=%s | event=%s | reason=user_pref_disabled',
+                            recipient.username, event_type)
         else:
-            # Matrix-routed broadcast — the admin matrix is the authority.
-            # Individual preference rows must not override it, otherwise an
-            # admin or director who once clicked "Pause All" would silently
-            # stop receiving inspection completion and other broadcast events.
             should_send = True
-        if should_send and recipient.email and current_app.config.get('MAIL_SERVER'):
+
+        mail_server = current_app.config.get('MAIL_SERVER')
+        if should_send and not recipient.email:
+            logger.warning('EMAIL SKIP | user=%s | event=%s | reason=no_email_address',
+                           recipient.username, event_type)
+        elif should_send and not mail_server:
+            logger.warning('EMAIL SKIP | user=%s | event=%s | reason=MAIL_SERVER_not_configured',
+                           recipient.username, event_type)
+        elif should_send:
+            logger.info('EMAIL SEND | user=%s | event=%s | to=%s',
+                        recipient.username, event_type, recipient.email)
             _send_single_email(recipient, title, body, link)
 
 
@@ -536,10 +548,15 @@ def notify_by_matrix(
         'customer':        'customer',
     }
 
+    logger.info('MATRIX NOTIFY START | event=%s | exclude=%s', event_type, exclude)
+
     for role_key, _ in MATRIX_ROLES:
         if role_key == 'custom':
             continue   # handled separately below
-        if not is_enabled(event_type, role_key):
+        enabled = is_enabled(event_type, role_key)
+        logger.info('MATRIX NOTIFY | event=%s | role=%s | enabled=%s',
+                    event_type, role_key, enabled)
+        if not enabled:
             continue
 
         db_role = role_to_db.get(role_key)
@@ -547,6 +564,8 @@ def notify_by_matrix(
             continue
 
         users = User.query.filter_by(role=db_role, active=True).all()
+        logger.info('MATRIX NOTIFY | event=%s | role=%s | users_found=%s',
+                    event_type, role_key, [u.username for u in users])
 
         # Scope customer role to facility if provided
         if role_key == 'customer' and facility_id: