diff --git a/api/package.json b/api/package.json
index 7e09aa0ac8..03cfa158dc 100644
--- a/api/package.json
+++ b/api/package.json
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
     "db:seed:staging": "npx prisma db seed -- --environment staging",
     "db:seed:development": "npx prisma db seed -- --environment development --jurisdictionName 'Bay Area'",
     "db:reseed:with-external:dev": "yarn db:setup:staging && IMPORT_ENV=dev yarn db:import-listings",
+    "db:reseed:ci": "SUPPRESS_NOTICE=true PGDATABASE=template1 yarn db:setup:staging",
     "generate:client": "ts-node scripts/generate-axios-client.ts && prettier -w ../shared-helpers/src/types/backend-swagger.ts",
     "test:e2e": "yarn db:resetup && yarn db:migration:run && jest --config ./test/jest-e2e.config.js",
     "db:setup": "yarn db:resetup && yarn db:migration:run && yarn db:seed:development",
diff --git a/build/docker/Dockerfile.backend b/build/docker/Dockerfile.backend
index d32f5c4e45..68621765fa 100644
--- a/build/docker/Dockerfile.backend
+++ b/build/docker/Dockerfile.backend
@@ -126,6 +126,8 @@ CMD yarn start:prod
 # The run stage contains an optimized image for running the application
 FROM run AS migrate
 
+ENV SKIP_MIGRATIONS=TRUE
+
 WORKDIR /app
 
 # These parts have to be run as root
@@ -144,6 +146,6 @@ COPY --from=source --chown=node:node /app/api/scripts ./scripts
 USER node
 
 # We need to skip all migrations that are just for local development (changes already exist in deployed environment)
-CMD yarn db:migration:skip 00_init || true && yarn db:migration:skip 02_hba_to_prisma || true && yarn db:migration:skip 03_0_external_listing || true && yarn db:migration:run
-## uncomment the below if starting on a new environment
-# CMD yarn db:migration:run
+CMD if [ "$SKIP_MIGRATIONS" = TRUE ]; then yarn db:migration:skip 00_init || true && yarn db:migration:skip 02_hba_to_prisma || true && yarn db:migration:skip 03_0_external_listing || true && yarn db:migration:run; \
+    else yarn db:migration:run; \
+    fi
diff --git a/ci/buildspec/build_backend.yml b/ci/buildspec/build_backend.yml
index 3fa0bca067..3b6a124cdc 100644
--- a/ci/buildspec/build_backend.yml
+++ b/ci/buildspec/build_backend.yml
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@ phases:
       - export ECR_HOST="${ECR_ACCOUNT_ID}.dkr.ecr.${ECR_REGION}.amazonaws.com"
       - export ECR_REPO="${ECR_HOST}/${ECR_NAMESPACE}"
 
-      - docker build . -f build/docker/Dockerfile.backend --target test -t backend/core:test
-      - docker run backend/core:test yarn test
+      # Skip the test step as it is handle before merge. But re-add if you want more verification
+      # - docker build . -f build/docker/Dockerfile.backend --target test -t backend/core:test
+      # - docker run backend/core:test yarn test
       - docker build . -f build/docker/Dockerfile.backend --target run -t backend/core:run-candidate
       - docker build . -f build/docker/Dockerfile.backend --target migrate -t backend/core:migrate-candidate
 
diff --git a/ci/buildspec/migrate_stop_backend.yml b/ci/buildspec/migrate_stop_backend.yml
index 6d6dd2ad07..dbcd93e408 100644
--- a/ci/buildspec/migrate_stop_backend.yml
+++ b/ci/buildspec/migrate_stop_backend.yml
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ phases:
         --env CLOUDINARY_KEY="${CLOUDINARY_KEY:-dummy_key}"
         --env PARTNERS_BASE_URL="${PARTNERS_BASE_URL:-http://localhost:3001/not-used}"
         --env PARTNERS_PORTAL_URL="${PARTNERS_PORTAL_URL:-http://localhost:3001/not-used}"
+        --env SKIP_MIGRATIONS=FALSE
         "${MIGRATION_IMAGE}" sh -c "yarn ${MIGRATION_CMD}"
 
       # Start the backend back up with the previous number of desired containers