diff --git a/src/plyngent/agent/todo_stack.py b/src/plyngent/agent/todo_stack.py
index fa2bb01..510c470 100644
--- a/src/plyngent/agent/todo_stack.py
+++ b/src/plyngent/agent/todo_stack.py
@@ -184,6 +184,20 @@ class TodoStack:
             f"Current stack:\n{self.render()}"
         )
 
+    def _existing_numeric_ids(self) -> list[int]:
+        """Numeric suffixes of ids that look like ``tN`` (for counter reuse)."""
+        return [
+            int(item.id[1:])
+            for group in self._data.groups
+            for item in group.items
+            if item.id.startswith("t") and item.id[1:].isdigit()
+        ]
+
+    def _sync_next_id(self) -> None:
+        """Set ``next_id`` to one past the highest live id (or 1 if empty)."""
+        nums = self._existing_numeric_ids()
+        self._data.next_id = max(nums) + 1 if nums else 1
+
     def _alloc(self, title: str, *, notes: str, status: TodoStatus) -> TodoItem:
         item_id = f"t{self._data.next_id}"
         self._data.next_id += 1
@@ -202,6 +216,8 @@ class TodoStack:
             msg = "at least one non-empty title is required"
             raise ValueError(msg)
         note = notes.strip()
+        # Rebase counter on live ids so clear/pop do not leave a high watermark.
+        self._sync_next_id()
         items = [self._alloc(title, notes=note, status=status) for title in cleaned]
         group = TodoGroup(items=items)
         self._data.groups.append(group)
@@ -218,12 +234,14 @@ class TodoStack:
         if not self._data.groups:
             return None
         group = self._data.groups.pop()
+        self._sync_next_id()
         self.mark_touched()
         return group
 
     def clear(self) -> int:
         n = sum(len(g.items) for g in self._data.groups)
         self._data.groups.clear()
+        self._sync_next_id()
         if n:
             self.mark_touched()
         return n
diff --git a/src/plyngent/cli/slash.py b/src/plyngent/cli/slash.py
index 67f6045..13a61aa 100644
--- a/src/plyngent/cli/slash.py
+++ b/src/plyngent/cli/slash.py
@@ -970,11 +970,11 @@ def todos_cmd(  # noqa: C901, PLR0911, PLR0912, PLR0915
     if act == "push":
         raw = " ".join(rest).strip()
         if not raw:
-            click.echo("error: usage: /todos push <title> | /todos push T1; T2")
+            click.echo('error: usage: /todos push <title> | /todos push ["T1","T2"] | T1; T2')
             return
         titles = parse_push_titles(raw)
         if not titles:
-            click.echo("error: no titles to push")
+            click.echo("error: no titles to push (use a JSON array or ; / newlines)")
             return
         try:
             group = stack.push_group(titles)
diff --git a/src/plyngent/tools/todo.py b/src/plyngent/tools/todo.py
index 6e67779..c9e8835 100644
--- a/src/plyngent/tools/todo.py
+++ b/src/plyngent/tools/todo.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, cast
 
 from plyngent.agent import tool
-from plyngent.agent.todo_stack import parse_push_titles
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Callable
@@ -53,17 +52,17 @@ def todo_list() -> str:
 
 
 @tool(name="todo_push")
-def todo_push(titles: str, notes: str = "") -> str:
+def todo_push(titles: list[str], notes: str = "") -> str:
     """Push **one task group** (siblings) onto the stack — not one level per title.
 
-    ``titles``: one title, newlines, ``;``, or JSON array. All listed titles
-    become members of a single new TOP group. Example: ``T1\\nT2`` pushes one
-    group {T1, T2}; a later ``T1.1\\nT1.2`` pushes a child group above it.
+    ``titles``: JSON array of strings (tool schema type ``array``). All entries
+    become members of a single new TOP group. Example: ``[\"T1\", \"T2\"]`` pushes
+    one group {T1, T2}; a later ``[\"T1.1\", \"T1.2\"]`` pushes a child group above it.
     """
     stack = _require_stack()
-    parsed = parse_push_titles(titles)
+    parsed = [t.strip() for t in titles if t and t.strip()]
     if not parsed:
-        return "error: titles must contain at least one non-empty title"
+        return "error: titles must be a non-empty array of strings"
     try:
         group = stack.push_group(parsed, notes=notes)
     except ValueError as exc:
diff --git a/tests/test_agent/test_todo_stack.py b/tests/test_agent/test_todo_stack.py
index 00aad28..b5dcdd1 100644
--- a/tests/test_agent/test_todo_stack.py
+++ b/tests/test_agent/test_todo_stack.py
@@ -30,6 +30,26 @@ def test_parse_push_titles() -> None:
     assert parse_push_titles('["A", "B"]') == ["A", "B"]
 
 
+def test_ids_reuse_after_clear() -> None:
+    stack = TodoStack()
+    g = stack.push_group(["A", "B"])
+    assert [i.id for i in g.items] == ["t1", "t2"]
+    assert stack.clear() == 2
+    g2 = stack.push_group(["C"])
+    assert [i.id for i in g2.items] == ["t1"]
+
+
+def test_ids_reuse_after_pop() -> None:
+    stack = TodoStack()
+    _ = stack.push_group(["A", "B"])  # t1, t2
+    g2 = stack.push_group(["C"])  # t3
+    assert g2.items[0].id == "t3"
+    _ = stack.pop()  # drop t3
+    g3 = stack.push_group(["D"])
+    # Highest live id is t2 → next is t3 again
+    assert g3.items[0].id == "t3"
+
+
 def test_push_is_group_not_per_task_stack() -> None:
     """Multi-title push is one group; pop removes the whole group."""
     stack = TodoStack()