diff --git a/app/pages/connections.vue b/app/pages/connections.vue
index 833c324..e295daf 100644
--- a/app/pages/connections.vue
+++ b/app/pages/connections.vue
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
       <template v-else>
         <!-- Filter Bar -->
-        <div v-if="tagOptions.length > 0 || stateOptions.length > 0" class="filter-bar">
+        <div v-if="tagOptions.length > 0" class="filter-bar">
           <select
             v-model="filterTag"
             class="filter-select"
@@ -340,7 +340,6 @@ const filterState = ref('')
 const showHidden = ref(false)
 const hiddenCount = ref(0)
 const tagOptions = ref([])
-const stateOptions = ref([])
 const craftTagOptions = ref([])
 
 // State display text
@@ -361,15 +360,6 @@ const craftTagLabel = (slug) => {
   return found ? found.label : slug
 }
 
-// Build tag options from the current member's cooperative topics
-const buildTagOptions = () => {
-  const topics = memberData.value?.communityConnections?.topics || []
-  tagOptions.value = topics.map(t => ({
-    slug: t.tagSlug,
-    label: cooperativeTagLabel(t.tagSlug),
-  }))
-}
-
 // Helpers
 const getInitials = (name) => {
   if (!name) return '?'
@@ -402,6 +392,7 @@ const loadSuggestions = async () => {
     const params = {}
     if (filterTag.value) params.tag = filterTag.value
     if (filterState.value) params.state = filterState.value
+    if (showHidden.value) params.showHidden = 'true'
     const data = await getSuggestions(params)
     suggestions.value = data.suggestions || []
   } catch (error) {
@@ -512,8 +503,6 @@ const handleWithdraw = async (connectionId) => {
 }
 
 const handleShowHiddenToggle = async () => {
-  // Reload suggestions — the API excludes hidden by default
-  // When showing hidden, we'd need an endpoint param; for now just reload
   await loadSuggestions()
 }
 
diff --git a/server/api/connections/suggestions.get.js b/server/api/connections/suggestions.get.js
index b0684b6..6847cd8 100644
--- a/server/api/connections/suggestions.get.js
+++ b/server/api/connections/suggestions.get.js
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
   const query = getQuery(event)
   const filterTag = query.tag || null
   const filterState = query.state || null
+  const showHidden = query.showHidden === 'true'
 
   // Build the set of tag slugs to match against
   let myTopics = topics
@@ -65,8 +66,8 @@ export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
     if (conn.status === 'confirmed' || conn.status === 'pending') {
       excludeIds.add(otherId)
     }
-    // Exclude if current member has hidden this connection
-    if (conn.hiddenBy?.some(id => id.toString() === memberId.toString())) {
+    // Exclude if current member has hidden this connection (unless showHidden)
+    if (!showHidden && conn.hiddenBy?.some(id => id.toString() === memberId.toString())) {
       excludeIds.add(otherId)
     }
   }