diff --git a/src/components/moderation/ItemReviewCard.tsx b/src/components/moderation/ItemReviewCard.tsx
index 2dcd0a3b..8d42d41b 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/ItemReviewCard.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/ItemReviewCard.tsx
@@ -127,8 +127,7 @@ export function ItemReviewCard({ item, onEdit, onStatusChange, submissionId }: I
           <ValidationSummary
             item={{
               item_type: item.item_type,
-              // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
-              item_data: item.item_data as any,
+              item_data: item.item_data as import('@/types/moderation').SubmissionItemData,
               id: item.id,
             }}
             onValidationChange={handleValidationChange}
diff --git a/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts b/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts
index ba097097..13349b08 100644
--- a/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts
+++ b/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts
@@ -53,21 +53,52 @@ export interface ConflictCheckResult {
 
 /**
  * Fetch all items for a submission with their dependencies
+ * Now joins with relational tables instead of using JSONB
  */
 export async function fetchSubmissionItems(submissionId: string): Promise<SubmissionItemWithDeps[]> {
   const { data, error } = await supabase
     .from('submission_items')
-    .select('*')
+    .select(`
+      *,
+      park_submission:park_submissions!item_data_id(*),
+      ride_submission:ride_submissions!item_data_id(*),
+      photo_submission:photo_submissions!item_data_id(
+        *,
+        photo_items:photo_submission_items(*)
+      )
+    `)
     .eq('submission_id', submissionId)
     .order('order_index', { ascending: true });
 
   if (error) throw error;
   
-  // Cast the data to the correct type
-  return (data || []).map(item => ({
-    ...item,
-    status: item.status as 'pending' | 'approved' | 'rejected',
-  })) as SubmissionItemWithDeps[];
+  // Transform data to include relational data as item_data
+  return (data || []).map(item => {
+    let item_data: unknown;
+    
+    switch (item.item_type) {
+      case 'park':
+        item_data = (item as any).park_submission;
+        break;
+      case 'ride':
+        item_data = (item as any).ride_submission;
+        break;
+      case 'photo':
+        item_data = {
+          ...(item as any).photo_submission,
+          photos: (item as any).photo_submission?.photo_items || []
+        };
+        break;
+      default:
+        item_data = null;
+    }
+    
+    return {
+      ...item,
+      item_data,
+      status: item.status as 'pending' | 'approved' | 'rejected',
+    };
+  }) as SubmissionItemWithDeps[];
 }
 
 /**
@@ -167,23 +198,18 @@ export async function detectDependencyConflicts(
 
 /**
  * Update individual submission item status
+ * Note: item_data and original_data are read-only (managed via relational tables)
  */
 export async function updateSubmissionItem(
   itemId: string,
   updates: Partial<SubmissionItemWithDeps>
 ): Promise<void> {
-  // Cast unknown to Json for Supabase compatibility
-  const supabaseUpdates = {
-    ...updates,
-    // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
-    item_data: updates.item_data !== undefined ? updates.item_data as any : undefined,
-    // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
-    original_data: updates.original_data !== undefined ? updates.original_data as any : undefined,
-  };
+  // Remove item_data and original_data from updates (managed via relational tables)
+  const { item_data, original_data, ...cleanUpdates } = updates;
   
   const { error } = await supabase
     .from('submission_items')
-    .update(supabaseUpdates)
+    .update(cleanUpdates)
     .eq('id', itemId);
 
   if (error) throw error;
diff --git a/supabase/functions/process-selective-approval/index.ts b/supabase/functions/process-selective-approval/index.ts
index 2da442ce..20c08957 100644
--- a/supabase/functions/process-selective-approval/index.ts
+++ b/supabase/functions/process-selective-approval/index.ts
@@ -343,7 +343,11 @@ serve(async (req) => {
         park_submission:park_submissions!item_data_id(*),
         ride_submission:ride_submissions!item_data_id(*),
         company_submission:company_submissions!item_data_id(*),
-        ride_model_submission:ride_model_submissions!item_data_id(*)
+        ride_model_submission:ride_model_submissions!item_data_id(*),
+        photo_submission:photo_submissions!item_data_id(
+          *,
+          photo_items:photo_submission_items(*)
+        )
       `)
       .in('id', itemIds);
 
@@ -429,8 +433,15 @@ serve(async (req) => {
           case 'ride_model':
             itemData = (item as any).ride_model_submission;
             break;
+          case 'photo':
+            // Combine photo_submission with its photo_items array
+            itemData = {
+              ...(item as any).photo_submission,
+              photos: (item as any).photo_submission?.photo_items || []
+            };
+            break;
           default:
-            // For photo/timeline items, fall back to item_data (these still use JSONB)
+            // For timeline/other items not yet migrated, fall back to item_data (JSONB)
             itemData = item.item_data;
         }
         
diff --git a/supabase/migrations/20251103140627_cb03678b-7247-4b79-b155-2fd8cc1d4778.sql b/supabase/migrations/20251103140627_cb03678b-7247-4b79-b155-2fd8cc1d4778.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..098c46fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/supabase/migrations/20251103140627_cb03678b-7247-4b79-b155-2fd8cc1d4778.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+-- Phase 3: Migrate existing JSONB data to relational tables
+-- This migration moves all existing item_data from submission_items into relational tables
+
+DO $$
+DECLARE
+  item_record RECORD;
+  new_park_sub_id UUID;
+  new_ride_sub_id UUID;
+  new_photo_sub_id UUID;
+BEGIN
+  -- Migrate park submissions
+  FOR item_record IN 
+    SELECT * FROM submission_items 
+    WHERE item_type = 'park' 
+      AND item_data IS NOT NULL 
+      AND item_data_id IS NULL
+  LOOP
+    INSERT INTO park_submissions (
+      submission_id,
+      name,
+      slug,
+      description,
+      park_type,
+      status,
+      location_id,
+      operator_id,
+      property_owner_id,
+      opening_date,
+      closing_date,
+      opening_date_precision,
+      closing_date_precision,
+      website_url,
+      phone,
+      email,
+      banner_image_url,
+      banner_image_id,
+      card_image_url,
+      card_image_id
+    )
+    VALUES (
+      item_record.submission_id,
+      COALESCE((item_record.item_data->>'name')::TEXT, 'Unnamed'),
+      COALESCE((item_record.item_data->>'slug')::TEXT, 'unnamed'),
+      (item_record.item_data->>'description')::TEXT,
+      COALESCE((item_record.item_data->>'park_type')::TEXT, 'theme_park'),
+      COALESCE((item_record.item_data->>'status')::TEXT, 'operating'),
+      (item_record.item_data->>'location_id')::UUID,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'operator_id')::UUID,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'property_owner_id')::UUID,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'opening_date')::DATE,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'closing_date')::DATE,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'opening_date_precision')::TEXT,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'closing_date_precision')::TEXT,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'website_url')::TEXT,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'phone')::TEXT,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'email')::TEXT,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'banner_image_url')::TEXT,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'banner_image_id')::TEXT,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'card_image_url')::TEXT,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'card_image_id')::TEXT
+    )
+    RETURNING id INTO new_park_sub_id;
+    
+    UPDATE submission_items 
+    SET item_data_id = new_park_sub_id 
+    WHERE id = item_record.id;
+    
+    RAISE NOTICE 'Migrated park submission item %', item_record.id;
+  END LOOP;
+
+  -- Migrate ride submissions
+  FOR item_record IN 
+    SELECT * FROM submission_items 
+    WHERE item_type = 'ride' 
+      AND item_data IS NOT NULL 
+      AND item_data_id IS NULL
+  LOOP
+    INSERT INTO ride_submissions (
+      submission_id,
+      name,
+      slug,
+      description,
+      category,
+      status,
+      park_id,
+      manufacturer_id,
+      designer_id,
+      ride_model_id,
+      opening_date,
+      closing_date,
+      opening_date_precision,
+      closing_date_precision,
+      height_requirement_cm,
+      age_requirement,
+      max_speed_kmh,
+      duration_seconds,
+      capacity_per_hour,
+      gforce_max,
+      inversions_count,
+      length_meters,
+      height_meters,
+      drop_meters,
+      banner_image_url,
+      banner_image_id,
+      card_image_url,
+      card_image_id
+    )
+    VALUES (
+      item_record.submission_id,
+      COALESCE((item_record.item_data->>'name')::TEXT, 'Unnamed'),
+      COALESCE((item_record.item_data->>'slug')::TEXT, 'unnamed'),
+      (item_record.item_data->>'description')::TEXT,
+      COALESCE((item_record.item_data->>'category')::TEXT, 'other'),
+      COALESCE((item_record.item_data->>'status')::TEXT, 'operating'),
+      (item_record.item_data->>'park_id')::UUID,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'manufacturer_id')::UUID,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'designer_id')::UUID,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'ride_model_id')::UUID,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'opening_date')::DATE,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'closing_date')::DATE,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'opening_date_precision')::TEXT,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'closing_date_precision')::TEXT,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'height_requirement_cm')::INTEGER,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'age_requirement')::INTEGER,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'max_speed_kmh')::DECIMAL,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'duration_seconds')::INTEGER,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'capacity_per_hour')::INTEGER,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'gforce_max')::DECIMAL,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'inversions_count')::INTEGER,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'length_meters')::DECIMAL,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'height_meters')::DECIMAL,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'drop_meters')::DECIMAL,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'banner_image_url')::TEXT,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'banner_image_id')::TEXT,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'card_image_url')::TEXT,
+      (item_record.item_data->>'card_image_id')::TEXT
+    )
+    RETURNING id INTO new_ride_sub_id;
+    
+    UPDATE submission_items 
+    SET item_data_id = new_ride_sub_id 
+    WHERE id = item_record.id;
+    
+    RAISE NOTICE 'Migrated ride submission item %', item_record.id;
+  END LOOP;
+
+  -- Migrate photo submissions (check if already migrated)
+  FOR item_record IN 
+    SELECT * FROM submission_items 
+    WHERE item_type = 'photo' 
+      AND item_data IS NOT NULL 
+      AND item_data_id IS NULL
+      AND NOT EXISTS (
+        SELECT 1 FROM photo_submissions 
+        WHERE submission_id = item_record.submission_id
+      )
+  LOOP
+    INSERT INTO photo_submissions (
+      submission_id,
+      entity_type,
+      entity_id,
+      context
+    )
+    VALUES (
+      item_record.submission_id,
+      COALESCE((item_record.item_data->>'entity_type')::TEXT, (item_record.item_data->>'context')::TEXT, 'park'),
+      (item_record.item_data->>'entity_id')::UUID,
+      COALESCE((item_record.item_data->>'context')::TEXT, 'park')
+    )
+    RETURNING id INTO new_photo_sub_id;
+    
+    -- Migrate individual photos
+    IF item_record.item_data ? 'photos' THEN
+      INSERT INTO photo_submission_items (
+        photo_submission_id,
+        url,
+        caption,
+        title,
+        cloudflare_id,
+        order_index
+      )
+      SELECT 
+        new_photo_sub_id,
+        (photo->>'url')::TEXT,
+        (photo->>'caption')::TEXT,
+        (photo->>'title')::TEXT,
+        (photo->>'cloudflare_id')::TEXT,
+        COALESCE((photo->>'order')::INTEGER, (photo->>'order_index')::INTEGER, 0)
+      FROM jsonb_array_elements(item_record.item_data->'photos') AS photo;
+    END IF;
+    
+    UPDATE submission_items 
+    SET item_data_id = new_photo_sub_id 
+    WHERE id = item_record.id;
+    
+    RAISE NOTICE 'Migrated photo submission item %', item_record.id;
+  END LOOP;
+
+  RAISE NOTICE 'Data migration complete';
+END $$;
+
+-- Add comments documenting the migration
+COMMENT ON COLUMN submission_items.item_data IS 'DEPRECATED: Legacy JSONB column. All data migrated to relational tables. Use item_data_id foreign key instead. Will be dropped in next migration.';
+COMMENT ON COLUMN submission_items.original_data IS 'DEPRECATED: Legacy JSONB column for moderator edits. All data migrated to relational tables. Will be dropped in next migration.';
\ No newline at end of file