diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci_suite.yml b/.github/workflows/ci_suite.yml
index b5ed61226f2..b3c798cf229 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci_suite.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci_suite.yml
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ jobs:
           bash tools/ci/check_changelogs.sh
           bash tools/ci/check_grep.sh
           bash tools/ci/check_misc.sh
-          tools/bootstrap/python tools/validate_dme.py <tgstation.dme
+          tools/bootstrap/python tools/ticked_file_enforcement/ticked_file_enforcement.py < tools/ticked_file_enforcement/schemas/tgstation_dme.json
+          tools/bootstrap/python tools/ticked_file_enforcement/ticked_file_enforcement.py < tools/ticked_file_enforcement/schemas/unit_tests.json
           tools/bootstrap/python -m tools.maplint.source --github
           tools/build/build --ci lint tgui-test
           tools/bootstrap/python -m define_sanity.check
diff --git a/code/modules/unit_tests/_unit_tests.dm b/code/modules/unit_tests/_unit_tests.dm
index bd038f90de8..a381e819aa8 100644
--- a/code/modules/unit_tests/_unit_tests.dm
+++ b/code/modules/unit_tests/_unit_tests.dm
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@
 /// A trait source when adding traits through unit tests
 #define TRAIT_SOURCE_UNIT_TESTS "unit_tests"
 
+// BEGIN_INCLUDE
 #include "ablative_hud.dm"
 #include "achievements.dm"
 #include "anchored_mobs.dm"
@@ -146,8 +147,8 @@
 #include "knockoff_component.dm"
 #include "lesserform.dm"
 #include "limbsanity.dm"
-#include "lungs.dm"
 #include "load_map_security.dm"
+#include "lungs.dm"
 #include "machine_disassembly.dm"
 #include "map_landmarks.dm"
 #include "mapload_space_verification.dm"
@@ -171,8 +172,8 @@
 #include "objectives.dm"
 #include "operating_table.dm"
 #include "orderable_items.dm"
-#include "organs.dm"
 #include "organ_set_bonus.dm"
+#include "organs.dm"
 #include "outfit_sanity.dm"
 #include "paintings.dm"
 #include "pills.dm"
@@ -201,8 +202,8 @@
 #include "screenshot_humanoids.dm"
 #include "screenshot_husk.dm"
 #include "screenshot_saturnx.dm"
-#include "security_officer_distribution.dm"
 #include "security_levels.dm"
+#include "security_officer_distribution.dm"
 #include "serving_tray.dm"
 #include "simple_animal_freeze.dm"
 #include "siunit.dm"
@@ -242,6 +243,7 @@
 #include "verify_emoji_names.dm"
 #include "wizard_loadout.dm"
 #include "worn_icons.dm"
+// END_INCLUDE
 #ifdef REFERENCE_TRACKING_DEBUG //Don't try and parse this file if ref tracking isn't turned on. IE: don't parse ref tracking please mr linter
 #include "find_reference_sanity.dm"
 #endif
diff --git a/tools/ticked_file_enforcement/schemas/tgstation_dme.json b/tools/ticked_file_enforcement/schemas/tgstation_dme.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..509c5b712e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ticked_file_enforcement/schemas/tgstation_dme.json
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{
+	"file": "tgstation.dme",
+	"scannable_directory": "code/**/*.dm",
+	"subdirectories": true,
+	"excluded_files": [],
+	"forbidden_includes": [
+		"code/modules/tgs/**/*.dm",
+		"code/modules/unit_tests/[!_]*.dm"
+	]
+}
diff --git a/tools/ticked_file_enforcement/schemas/unit_tests.json b/tools/ticked_file_enforcement/schemas/unit_tests.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..416708eea74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ticked_file_enforcement/schemas/unit_tests.json
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+	"file": "code/modules/unit_tests/_unit_tests.dm",
+	"scannable_directory": "code/modules/unit_tests/*.dm",
+	"subdirectories": false,
+	"excluded_files": [
+		"find_reference_sanity.dm"
+	],
+	"forbidden_includes": []
+}
diff --git a/tools/ticked_file_enforcement/ticked_file_enforcement.py b/tools/ticked_file_enforcement/ticked_file_enforcement.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7f9e7a4dbf9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ticked_file_enforcement/ticked_file_enforcement.py
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+import codecs
+import fnmatch
+import functools
+import glob
+import json
+import os
+import sys
+
+# simple way to check if we're running on github actions, or on a local machine
+on_github = os.getenv("GITHUB_ACTIONS") == "true"
+
+def green(text):
+    return "\033[32m" + str(text) + "\033[0m"
+
+def red(text):
+    return "\033[31m" + str(text) + "\033[0m"
+
+def blue(text):
+    return "\033[34m" + str(text) + "\033[0m"
+
+schema = json.load(sys.stdin)
+file_reference = schema["file"]
+file_reference_basename = os.path.basename(file_reference)
+scannable_directory = schema["scannable_directory"]
+subdirectories = schema["subdirectories"]
+FORBIDDEN_INCLUDES = schema["forbidden_includes"]
+excluded_files = schema["excluded_files"]
+
+def post_error(string):
+    print(red(f"Ticked File Enforcement [{file_reference}]: " + string))
+    if on_github:
+        print(f"::error file={file_reference},line=1,title=Ticked File Enforcement::{string}")
+
+for excluded_file in excluded_files:
+    trimmed_file_name = excluded_file[:-3]
+    full_file_path = scannable_directory.replace('*', trimmed_file_name)
+    if not os.path.isfile(full_file_path):
+        post_error(f"Excluded file {full_file_path} does not exist, please remove it!")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+
+reading = False
+lines = []
+total = 0
+
+with open(file_reference, 'r') as file:
+    for line in file:
+        total += 1
+        line = line.strip()
+
+        if line == "// BEGIN_INCLUDE":
+            reading = True
+            continue
+        elif line == "// END_INCLUDE":
+            break
+        elif not reading:
+            continue
+
+        lines.append(line)
+
+offset = total - len(lines)
+print(blue(f"Ticked File Enforcement: {offset} lines were ignored in output for [{file_reference}]."))
+fail_no_include = False
+
+for code_file in glob.glob(scannable_directory, recursive=True):
+    dm_path = ""
+
+    if subdirectories is True:
+        dm_path = code_file.replace('/', '\\')
+    else:
+        dm_path = os.path.basename(code_file)
+
+    included = f"#include \"{dm_path}\"" in lines
+
+    forbid_include = False
+    for forbidable in FORBIDDEN_INCLUDES:
+        if not fnmatch.fnmatch(code_file, forbidable):
+            continue
+
+        forbid_include = True
+
+        if included:
+            post_error(f"{dm_path} should NOT be included.")
+            fail_no_include = True
+
+    if forbid_include:
+        continue
+
+    if not included:
+        if(dm_path == file_reference_basename):
+            continue
+
+        if(dm_path in excluded_files):
+            continue
+
+        post_error(f"Missing include for {dm_path}.")
+        fail_no_include = True
+
+if fail_no_include:
+    sys.exit(1)
+
+def compare_lines(a, b):
+    # Remove initial include as well as the final quotation mark
+    a = a[len("#include \""):-1].lower()
+    b = b[len("#include \""):-1].lower()
+
+    a_segments = a.split('\\')
+    b_segments = b.split('\\')
+
+    for (a_segment, b_segment) in zip(a_segments, b_segments):
+        a_is_file = a_segment.endswith(".dm")
+        b_is_file = b_segment.endswith(".dm")
+
+        # code\something.dm will ALWAYS come before code\directory\something.dm
+        if a_is_file and not b_is_file:
+            return -1
+
+        if b_is_file and not a_is_file:
+            return 1
+
+        # interface\something.dm will ALWAYS come after code\something.dm
+        if a_segment != b_segment:
+            return (a_segment > b_segment) - (a_segment < b_segment)
+
+    print(f"Two lines were exactly the same ({a} vs. {b})")
+    sys.exit(1)
+
+sorted_lines = sorted(lines, key = functools.cmp_to_key(compare_lines))
+for (index, line) in enumerate(lines):
+    if sorted_lines[index] != line:
+        post_error(f"The include at line {index + offset} is out of order ({line}, expected {sorted_lines[index]})")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+print(green(f"Ticked File Enforcement: [{file_reference}] All includes are in order!"))
diff --git a/tools/validate_dme.py b/tools/validate_dme.py
deleted file mode 100644
index ce1499f82fd..00000000000
--- a/tools/validate_dme.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,95 +0,0 @@
-import fnmatch
-import functools
-import glob
-import sys
-
-reading = False
-
-FORBID_INCLUDE = [
-    # Included by _unit_test.dm
-    r'code/modules/unit_tests/[!_]*.dm',
-
-    # Included by tgs/includes.dm
-    r'code/modules/tgs/**/*.dm',
-]
-
-lines = []
-total = 0
-for line in sys.stdin:
-    total+=1
-    line = line.strip()
-
-    if line == "// BEGIN_INCLUDE":
-        reading = True
-        continue
-    elif line == "// END_INCLUDE":
-        break
-    elif not reading:
-        continue
-
-    lines.append(line)
-
-offset = total - len(lines)
-print(f"{offset} lines were ignored in output")
-fail_no_include = False
-
-for code_file in glob.glob("code/**/*.dm", recursive=True):
-    dm_path = code_file.replace('/', '\\')
-
-    included = f"#include \"{dm_path}\"" in lines
-    forbid_include = False
-
-    for forbid in FORBID_INCLUDE:
-        if not fnmatch.fnmatch(code_file, forbid):
-            continue
-
-        forbid_include = True
-
-        if included:
-            print(f"{dm_path} should not be included")
-            print(f"::error file={code_file},line=1,title=DME Validator::File should not be included")
-            fail_no_include = True
-
-    if forbid_include:
-        continue
-
-    if not included:
-        print(f"{dm_path} is not included")
-        print(f"::error file={code_file},line=1,title=DME Validator::File is not included")
-        fail_no_include = True
-
-if fail_no_include:
-    sys.exit(1)
-
-def compare_lines(a, b):
-    # Remove initial include as well as the final quotation mark
-    a = a[len("#include \""):-1].lower()
-    b = b[len("#include \""):-1].lower()
-
-    a_segments = a.split('\\')
-    b_segments = b.split('\\')
-
-    for (a_segment, b_segment) in zip(a_segments, b_segments):
-        a_is_file = a_segment.endswith(".dm")
-        b_is_file = b_segment.endswith(".dm")
-
-        # code\something.dm will ALWAYS come before code\directory\something.dm
-        if a_is_file and not b_is_file:
-            return -1
-
-        if b_is_file and not a_is_file:
-            return 1
-
-        # interface\something.dm will ALWAYS come after code\something.dm
-        if a_segment != b_segment:
-            return (a_segment > b_segment) - (a_segment < b_segment)
-
-    print(f"Two lines were exactly the same ({a} vs. {b})")
-    sys.exit(1)
-
-sorted_lines = sorted(lines, key = functools.cmp_to_key(compare_lines))
-for (index, line) in enumerate(lines):
-    if sorted_lines[index] != line:
-        print(f"The include at line {index + offset} is out of order ({line}, expected {sorted_lines[index]})")
-        print(f"::error file=tgstation.dme,line={index+offset},title=DME Validator::The include at line {index + offset} is out of order ({line}, expected {sorted_lines[index]})")
-        sys.exit(1)