diff --git a/api/__pycache__/settings.cpython-313.pyc b/api/__pycache__/settings.cpython-313.pyc
index a174e29b..6f12e0ef 100644
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diff --git a/app/__pycache__/models.cpython-313.pyc b/app/__pycache__/models.cpython-313.pyc
index 710e3f98..d4e08c10 100644
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diff --git a/app/__pycache__/workflow_utils.cpython-313.pyc b/app/__pycache__/workflow_utils.cpython-313.pyc
index 5ded5f24..2c2998d4 100644
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diff --git a/app/migrations/0366_payment_schedule_batch_date.py b/app/migrations/0366_payment_schedule_batch_date.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..355fc2da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/migrations/0366_payment_schedule_batch_date.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Generated by Django 5.1.7 on 2026-01-26 03:50
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('app', '0365_payment_schedule_penalty_paid_and_more'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='payment_schedule',
+            name='batch_date',
+            field=models.DateField(null=True),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/app/models.py b/app/models.py
index ecb2c9c6..6a11d0cc 100644
--- a/app/models.py
+++ b/app/models.py
@@ -1700,6 +1700,7 @@ class Payment_Schedule(AutoCodeModel):
     updater = models.ForeignKey(User, null=False, related_name='+', on_delete=models.PROTECT)
     entry = models.JSONField(null=True)
     detail = models.JSONField(null=True)
+    batch_date = models.DateField(null=True)
     ovd_days = models.IntegerField(null=True)
     penalty_amount = models.DecimalField(null=True, max_digits=15, decimal_places=2)
     penalty_paid = models.DecimalField(null=True, max_digits=15, decimal_places=2)
diff --git a/app/workflow_utils.py b/app/workflow_utils.py
index c183069a..430c7618 100644
--- a/app/workflow_utils.py
+++ b/app/workflow_utils.py
@@ -321,17 +321,34 @@ def resolve_value(expr, context):
     # =============================================
     # $append(list, element)
     if re.match(r'^\$append\(', expr, re.IGNORECASE):
-        match = re.match(r'^\$append\((.*)\)$', expr, re.IGNORECASE)
+        match = re.match(r"^\$append\(([^,]+),\s*(.+)\)$", expr, re.DOTALL)
         if match:
-            args = split_args(match.group(1))
-            if len(args) == 2:
-                target_list = resolve_value(args[0], context)
-                element = resolve_value(args[1], context)
-                if not isinstance(target_list, list):
-                    target_list = []
-                result = list(target_list)
-                result.append(element)
-                return result
+            list_expr = match.group(1).strip()
+            element_expr = match.group(2).strip()
+
+            # 1. Resolve the list
+            target_list = resolve_value(list_expr, context)
+            if target_list is None:
+                target_list = []
+            
+            # Ensure it's a copy so we don't modify the original context variable directly
+            target_list = list(target_list) 
+
+            # 2. Resolve the element
+            resolved_element = resolve_value(element_expr, context)
+
+            if isinstance(resolved_element, str):
+                try:
+                    import json
+                    element_to_append = json.loads(resolved_element)
+                except json.JSONDecodeError:
+                    element_to_append = resolved_element
+            else:
+                element_to_append = resolved_element
+            
+            target_list.append(element_to_append)
+            return target_list
+
 
     # $first(list), $last(list)
     if re.match(r'^\$(first|last)\(', expr, re.IGNORECASE):