diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index fffa6e1..a832474 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         ruby-version: [ "3.3", "3.4", "4.0" ]
-        rails-version: [ "8.0", "8.1" ]
+        rails-version: [ "7.1", "7.2", "8.0", "8.1" ]
     env:
       RAILS_VERSION: ${{ matrix.rails-version }}
     steps:
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 28c0a3a..357ddb7 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ Use dedicated, empty databases for adapter tests and benchmarks.
 
 ## Coding Style & Naming Conventions
 
-Target Ruby 3.3+ and Rails 8+. Use two-space indentation and let Standard Ruby plus the Solid Queue-derived RuboCop policy decide formatting. Prefer descriptive `snake_case` methods and variables, `CamelCase` constants, early returns, and keyword shorthand such as `Message.new(actor_id:)`. Avoid boolean parameters and abbreviations.
+Target Ruby 3.3+ and Rails 7.1+. Use two-space indentation and let Standard Ruby plus the Solid Queue-derived RuboCop policy decide formatting. Prefer descriptive `snake_case` methods and variables, `CamelCase` constants, early returns, and keyword shorthand such as `Message.new(actor_id:)`. Avoid boolean parameters and abbreviations.
 
 Every owned Ruby file must enable inline RBS with `# rbs_inline: enabled`; annotate methods and instance variables using `# @rbs`. Keep database behavior portable across SQLite, PostgreSQL, and MySQL. Model queue state through table membership rather than partial indexes.
 
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 00d6ae9..3d1d0cb 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,13 @@
   `config/initializers` no longer loses them.
 - Apply the configured `connects_to` in the record class body, so the
   connection follows the class through a development reload.
+- Lower the supported Rails floor from 8.0 to 7.1. The gem dependencies, the
+  bundled migrations, and the compatibility CI matrix now cover Rails 7.1, 7.2,
+  8.0, and 8.1. The migrations declare `ActiveRecord::Migration[7.1]`, which
+  builds the same schema as `[8.0]` because the compatibility layer between the
+  two only changes `remove_foreign_key`, which no Solid Objects migration calls.
+  Rails 7.0 stays out of range: its SQLite adapter requires `sqlite3 ~> 1.4`,
+  and the busy-handler control this gem needs arrived in `sqlite3` 2.x.
 
 ## 0.13.2 - 2026-08-17
 
diff --git a/Gemfile.lock b/Gemfile.lock
index e7b922f..937b83d 100644
--- a/Gemfile.lock
+++ b/Gemfile.lock
@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@ PATH
   remote: .
   specs:
     solid_objects (0.13.3)
-      actioncable (>= 8.0)
-      actionpack (>= 8.0)
-      actionview (>= 8.0)
-      activerecord (>= 8.0)
-      activesupport (>= 8.0)
+      actioncable (>= 7.1)
+      actionpack (>= 7.1)
+      actionview (>= 7.1)
+      activerecord (>= 7.1)
+      activesupport (>= 7.1)
       rack (>= 3.1)
-      railties (>= 8.0)
+      railties (>= 7.1)
       thor (>= 1.3)
 
 GEM
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 296e6ff..5acaa9d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -341,7 +341,8 @@ mount SolidObjects::Engine => "/solid_objects"
 
 ## Installation
 
-Solid Objects requires Ruby 3.3 or newer and Rails 8.0 or newer.
+Solid Objects requires Ruby 3.3 or newer and Rails 7.1 or newer. CI runs the
+suite against Rails 7.1, 7.2, 8.0, and 8.1.
 
 Add the gem, install its initializer and migration, then migrate:
 
diff --git a/db/migrate/20260805000000_create_solid_objects_tables.rb b/db/migrate/20260805000000_create_solid_objects_tables.rb
index ca0cb45..d5b62af 100644
--- a/db/migrate/20260805000000_create_solid_objects_tables.rb
+++ b/db/migrate/20260805000000_create_solid_objects_tables.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # rbs_inline: enabled
 
-class CreateSolidObjectsTables < ActiveRecord::Migration[8.0]
+class CreateSolidObjectsTables < ActiveRecord::Migration[7.1]
   # @rbs () -> void
   def change
     create_processes
diff --git a/db/migrate/20260806000000_add_state_revision_to_solid_objects_instances.rb b/db/migrate/20260806000000_add_state_revision_to_solid_objects_instances.rb
index ee279c3..8f0c762 100644
--- a/db/migrate/20260806000000_add_state_revision_to_solid_objects_instances.rb
+++ b/db/migrate/20260806000000_add_state_revision_to_solid_objects_instances.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # rbs_inline: enabled
 
-class AddStateRevisionToSolidObjectsInstances < ActiveRecord::Migration[8.0]
+class AddStateRevisionToSolidObjectsInstances < ActiveRecord::Migration[7.1]
   # @rbs () -> void
   def change
     add_column SolidObjects.table_name(:instances),
diff --git a/db/migrate/20260813000000_rename_message_dispatch_columns.rb b/db/migrate/20260813000000_rename_message_dispatch_columns.rb
index 339be1f..c6dc48f 100644
--- a/db/migrate/20260813000000_rename_message_dispatch_columns.rb
+++ b/db/migrate/20260813000000_rename_message_dispatch_columns.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # rbs_inline: enabled
 
-class RenameMessageDispatchColumns < ActiveRecord::Migration[8.0]
+class RenameMessageDispatchColumns < ActiveRecord::Migration[7.1]
   # @rbs () -> void
   def up
     remove_check_constraint messages_table, name: "chk_so_messages_kind"
diff --git a/docs/development.md b/docs/development.md
index 41568cd..df148cf 100644
--- a/docs/development.md
+++ b/docs/development.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 ## Requirements
 
 - Ruby 3.3 or newer
-- Rails 8.0 or newer
+- Rails 7.1 or newer
 - SQLite 3.35+, PostgreSQL 14+, and MySQL 8.0/InnoDB for the full matrix
 
 Install dependencies:
diff --git a/docs/roadmap.md b/docs/roadmap.md
index d2f2b45..185f341 100644
--- a/docs/roadmap.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap.md
@@ -66,8 +66,12 @@
 - Inline RBS generation/validation, Steep, Standard Ruby, Solid Queue's exact
   RuboCop policy, and a warning-free Brakeman scan
 - Compatibility CI across the supported span: Ruby 3.3, 3.4, and 4.0 against
-  Rails 8.0 and 8.1, pinned through `RAILS_VERSION` so the advertised range is
-  verified rather than assumed
+  Rails 7.1, 7.2, 8.0, and 8.1, pinned through `RAILS_VERSION` so the advertised
+  range is verified rather than assumed. The compatibility job runs SQLite only;
+  the PostgreSQL and MySQL jobs run on the newest Rails, so adapter behavior on
+  Rails 7.1 and 7.2 is unmeasured against those servers. Rails 7.0 is out of
+  range because its SQLite adapter requires `sqlite3 ~> 1.4`, and this gem needs
+  the busy-handler control that arrived in `sqlite3` 2.x
 - A JavaScript suite covering every browser module, run in CI with Node's test
   runner and jsdom, plus a browser suite running the same modules against real
   Chromium and a real Turbo build, with every GitHub Actions reference pinned to
diff --git a/solid_objects.gemspec b/solid_objects.gemspec
index 263b1bf..e1e993b 100644
--- a/solid_objects.gemspec
+++ b/solid_objects.gemspec
@@ -35,16 +35,16 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |spec|
   spec.executables = [ "solid_objects" ]
   spec.require_paths = [ "lib" ]
 
-  spec.add_dependency "actioncable", ">= 8.0"
-  spec.add_dependency "actionpack", ">= 8.0"
-  spec.add_dependency "actionview", ">= 8.0"
-  spec.add_dependency "activerecord", ">= 8.0"
-  spec.add_dependency "activesupport", ">= 8.0"
+  spec.add_dependency "actioncable", ">= 7.1"
+  spec.add_dependency "actionpack", ">= 7.1"
+  spec.add_dependency "actionview", ">= 7.1"
+  spec.add_dependency "activerecord", ">= 7.1"
+  spec.add_dependency "activesupport", ">= 7.1"
   # The operator dashboard is a Rack application. Rack arrives with Action Pack
   # in every supported Rails version; the floor is stated because the dashboard
   # writes lowercase response headers, which Rack 3 requires.
   spec.add_dependency "rack", ">= 3.1"
-  spec.add_dependency "railties", ">= 8.0"
+  spec.add_dependency "railties", ">= 7.1"
   spec.add_dependency "thor", ">= 1.3"
 
   spec.add_development_dependency "benchmark"
diff --git a/test/integration/enqueue_lock_retry_test.rb b/test/integration/enqueue_lock_retry_test.rb
index 5aadb8d..5cc23ca 100644
--- a/test/integration/enqueue_lock_retry_test.rb
+++ b/test/integration/enqueue_lock_retry_test.rb
@@ -74,7 +74,10 @@ def add(product_id:)
     reference = CartActor.ref("alice")
     lock = hold_write_lock
 
-    error = assert_raises(ActiveRecord::StatementTimeout) do
+    # Rails 8 maps an exhausted SQLite busy handler to StatementTimeout, and
+    # Rails 7.1 and 7.2 leave it as the StatementInvalid that timeout subclasses.
+    # The message is what the caller relies on, so it carries the assertion.
+    error = assert_raises(ActiveRecord::StatementInvalid) do
       Timeout.timeout(20) do
         SolidObjects::Record.connection_pool.with_connection do |connection|
           suspend_sqlite_busy_wait(connection) do