diff --git a/api/src/opentrons/api/dev_types.py b/api/src/opentrons/api/dev_types.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c22cca08a9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/src/opentrons/api/dev_types.py
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+from typing_extensions import Literal, TypedDict
+
+State = Literal[
+    'loaded', 'running', 'finished', 'stopped', 'paused', 'error', None]
+
+
+class StateInfo(TypedDict, total=False):
+    message: str
+    #: A message associated with the state change by the system for display
+    changedAt: float
+    #: The time at which the state changed, relative to the startTime
+    estimatedDuration: float
+    #: If relevant for the state (e.g. 'paused' caused by a delay() call) the
+    #: duration estimated for the state
+    userMessage: str
+    #: If provided by the mechanism that changed the state, a message from the
+    #: user
diff --git a/api/src/opentrons/api/session.py b/api/src/opentrons/api/session.py
index f235e768819..f7b2115e123 100755
--- a/api/src/opentrons/api/session.py
+++ b/api/src/opentrons/api/session.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 from functools import reduce, wraps
 import logging
 from time import time, sleep
-from typing import List, Dict, Any, Optional
+from typing import List, Dict, Any, Optional, Set, TYPE_CHECKING
 from uuid import uuid4
 from opentrons.drivers.smoothie_drivers.driver_3_0 import SmoothieAlarm
 from opentrons.drivers.rpi_drivers.gpio_simulator import SimulatingGPIOCharDev
@@ -27,9 +27,13 @@
 
 from opentrons.legacy_api.containers import get_container, location_to_list
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from .dev_types import State, StateInfo
+
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-VALID_STATES = {'loaded', 'running', 'finished', 'stopped', 'paused', 'error'}
+VALID_STATES: Set['State'] = {
+    'loaded', 'running', 'finished', 'stopped', 'paused', 'error'}
 
 
 def _motion_lock(func):
@@ -241,7 +245,10 @@ def __init__(self, name, protocol, hardware, loop, broker, motion_lock):
         self._simulating_ctx = ProtocolContext.build_using(
             self._protocol, loop=self._loop, broker=self._broker)
 
-        self.state = None
+        self.state: 'State' = None
+        #: The current state
+        self.stateInfo: 'StateInfo' = {}
+        #: A message associated with the current state
         self.commands = []
         self.command_log = {}
         self.errors = []
@@ -256,7 +263,7 @@ def __init__(self, name, protocol, hardware, loop, broker, motion_lock):
         self.modules = None
         self.protocol_text = protocol.text
 
-        self.startTime = None
+        self.startTime: Optional[float] = None
         self._motion_lock = motion_lock
 
     def _hw_iface(self):
@@ -448,7 +455,10 @@ def stop(self):
         self.set_state('stopped')
         return self
 
-    def pause(self):
+    def pause(self,
+              reason: str = None,
+              user_message: str = None,
+              duration: float = None):
         if self._use_v2:
             self._hardware.pause()
         # robot.pause in the legacy API will publish commands to the broker
@@ -456,7 +466,9 @@ def pause(self):
         else:
             robot.execute_pause()
 
-        self.set_state('paused')
+        self.set_state(
+            'paused', reason=reason,
+            user_message=user_message, duration=duration)
         return self
 
     def resume(self):
@@ -476,7 +488,9 @@ def on_command(message):
             if message['$'] == 'before':
                 self.log_append()
             if message['name'] == command_types.PAUSE:
-                self.set_state('paused')
+                self.set_state('paused',
+                               reason='The protocol paused execution',
+                               user_message=message['payload']['userMessage'])
             if message['name'] == command_types.RESUME:
                 self.set_state('running')
 
@@ -553,13 +567,31 @@ def run(self):
             self._broker.set_logger(self._default_logger)
         return self
 
-    def set_state(self, state):
-        log.debug("State set to {}".format(state))
+    def set_state(self, state: 'State',
+                  reason: str = None,
+                  user_message: str = None,
+                  duration: float = None):
         if state not in VALID_STATES:
             raise ValueError(
                 'Invalid state: {0}. Valid states are: {1}'
                 .format(state, VALID_STATES))
         self.state = state
+        if user_message:
+            self.stateInfo['userMessage'] = user_message
+        else:
+            self.stateInfo.pop('userMessage', None)
+        if reason:
+            self.stateInfo['message'] = reason
+        else:
+            self.stateInfo.pop('message', None)
+        if duration:
+            self.stateInfo['estimatedDuration'] = duration
+        else:
+            self.stateInfo.pop('estimatedDuration', None)
+        if self.startTime:
+            self.stateInfo['changedAt'] = now()-self.startTime
+        else:
+            self.stateInfo.pop('changedAt', None)
         self._on_state_changed()
 
     def log_append(self):
@@ -593,6 +625,7 @@ def _snapshot(self):
 
             payload = {
                 'state': self.state,
+                'stateInfo': self.stateInfo,
                 'startTime': self.startTime,
                 'errors': self.errors,
                 'lastCommand': last_command
diff --git a/api/src/opentrons/commands/commands.py b/api/src/opentrons/commands/commands.py
index 8ce03f8cbac..180152b22a0 100755
--- a/api/src/opentrons/commands/commands.py
+++ b/api/src/opentrons/commands/commands.py
@@ -533,7 +533,8 @@ def pause(msg):
     return make_command(
         name=command_types.PAUSE,
         payload={
-            'text': text
+            'text': text,
+            'userMessage': msg,
         }
     )
 
diff --git a/api/tests/opentrons/api/test_session.py b/api/tests/opentrons/api/test_session.py
index 0d7892efbe0..b86ea0bca92 100755
--- a/api/tests/opentrons/api/test_session.py
+++ b/api/tests/opentrons/api/test_session.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import pytest
 import base64
 
+from opentrons.api import session
 from opentrons.api.session import (
     _accumulate, _dedupe)
 from tests.opentrons.conftest import state
@@ -132,6 +133,21 @@ def test_set_state(run_session):
         run_session.set_state('impossible-state')
 
 
+def test_set_state_info(run_session, monkeypatch):
+    assert run_session.stateInfo == {}
+    run_session.set_state('paused',
+                          reason='test1',
+                          user_message='cool message',
+                          duration=10)
+    assert run_session.stateInfo == {'message': 'test1',
+                                     'userMessage': 'cool message',
+                                     'estimatedDuration': 10}
+    run_session.startTime = 300
+    monkeypatch.setattr(session, 'now', lambda: 350)
+    run_session.set_state('running')
+    assert run_session.stateInfo == {'changedAt': 50}
+
+
 def test_error_append(run_session):
     foo = Exception('Foo')
     bar = Exception('Bar')
diff --git a/app/src/components/RunLog/CommandList.js b/app/src/components/RunLog/CommandList.js
index aed4f38190d..b9a7a71a10a 100644
--- a/app/src/components/RunLog/CommandList.js
+++ b/app/src/components/RunLog/CommandList.js
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@ import { SessionAlert } from './SessionAlert'
 import { Portal } from '../portal'
 import styles from './styles.css'
 
-import type { SessionStatus } from '../../robot'
+import type { SessionStatus, SessionStatusInfo } from '../../robot'
 
 export type CommandListProps = {|
   commands: Array<any>,
   sessionStatus: SessionStatus,
+  sessionStatusInfo: SessionStatusInfo,
   showSpinner: boolean,
   onResetClick: () => mixed,
 |}
@@ -23,7 +24,13 @@ export class CommandList extends React.Component<CommandListProps> {
   }
 
   render() {
-    const { commands, sessionStatus, showSpinner, onResetClick } = this.props
+    const {
+      commands,
+      sessionStatus,
+      sessionStatusInfo,
+      showSpinner,
+      onResetClick,
+    } = this.props
     const makeCommandToTemplateMapper = depth => command => {
       const {
         id,
@@ -88,6 +95,7 @@ export class CommandList extends React.Component<CommandListProps> {
         {!showSpinner && (
           <SessionAlert
             sessionStatus={sessionStatus}
+            sessionStatusInfo={sessionStatusInfo}
             onResetClick={onResetClick}
             className={styles.alert}
           />
diff --git a/app/src/components/RunLog/SessionAlert.js b/app/src/components/RunLog/SessionAlert.js
index 2188dd9f974..f69d9e28117 100644
--- a/app/src/components/RunLog/SessionAlert.js
+++ b/app/src/components/RunLog/SessionAlert.js
@@ -3,16 +3,27 @@ import * as React from 'react'
 import { useSelector } from 'react-redux'
 import { AlertItem } from '@opentrons/components'
 import { getSessionError } from '../../robot/selectors'
-import type { SessionStatus } from '../../robot'
+import type { SessionStatus, SessionStatusInfo } from '../../robot'
+import styles from './styles.css'
+
+const buildPauseMessage = (message: ?string): string =>
+  message ? `: ${message}` : ''
+
+const buildPause = (message: ?string): string =>
+  `Run paused${buildPauseMessage(message)}`
+
+const buildPauseUserMessage = (message: ?string) =>
+  message && <div className={styles.pause_user_message}>{message}</div>
 
 export type SessionAlertProps = {|
   sessionStatus: SessionStatus,
+  sessionStatusInfo: SessionStatusInfo,
   className?: string,
   onResetClick: () => mixed,
 |}
 
 export function SessionAlert(props: SessionAlertProps) {
-  const { sessionStatus, className, onResetClick } = props
+  const { sessionStatus, sessionStatusInfo, className, onResetClick } = props
   const sessionError = useSelector(getSessionError)
 
   switch (sessionStatus) {
@@ -36,8 +47,10 @@ export function SessionAlert(props: SessionAlertProps) {
           className={className}
           type="info"
           icon={{ name: 'pause-circle' }}
-          title="Run paused"
-        />
+          title={buildPause(sessionStatusInfo.message)}
+        >
+          {buildPauseUserMessage(sessionStatusInfo.userMessage)}
+        </AlertItem>
       )
 
     case 'stopped':
diff --git a/app/src/components/RunLog/index.js b/app/src/components/RunLog/index.js
index 927e3a78bd0..6cfe59257f4 100644
--- a/app/src/components/RunLog/index.js
+++ b/app/src/components/RunLog/index.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import {
 import { CommandList } from './CommandList'
 
 import type { State, Dispatch } from '../../types'
-import type { SessionStatus } from '../../robot'
+import type { SessionStatus, SessionStatusInfo } from '../../robot'
 import type { CommandListProps } from './CommandList'
 
 export { ConfirmCancelModal } from './ConfirmCancelModal'
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export { ConfirmCancelModal } from './ConfirmCancelModal'
 type SP = {|
   commands: Array<any>,
   sessionStatus: SessionStatus,
+  sessionStatusInfo: SessionStatusInfo,
   showSpinner: boolean,
 |}
 
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ function mapStateToProps(state: State): SP {
   return {
     commands: robotSelectors.getCommands(state),
     sessionStatus: robotSelectors.getSessionStatus(state),
+    sessionStatusInfo: robotSelectors.getSessionStatusInfo(state),
     showSpinner:
       robotSelectors.getCancelInProgress(state) ||
       robotSelectors.getSessionLoadInProgress(state),
diff --git a/app/src/components/RunLog/styles.css b/app/src/components/RunLog/styles.css
index 1a117b83cf5..7230f2b9098 100644
--- a/app/src/components/RunLog/styles.css
+++ b/app/src/components/RunLog/styles.css
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 /* stylelint-disable selector-class-pattern, font-family-no-missing-generic-family-keyword  */
 @import '@opentrons/components';
 
+.pause_user_message {
+  margin-left: 0.5rem;
+  margin-right: 0.5rem;
+  font-style: italic;
+  overflow-y: scroll;
+  max-height: 4rem;
+}
+
 .run_page {
   position: relative;
 }
diff --git a/app/src/robot/api-client/client.js b/app/src/robot/api-client/client.js
index 31e8ddd0060..35954ac0b88 100755
--- a/app/src/robot/api-client/client.js
+++ b/app/src/robot/api-client/client.js
@@ -453,6 +453,13 @@ export function client(dispatch) {
       clearRunTimerInterval()
     }
 
+    update.statusInfo = {
+      message: apiSession.stateInfo?.message ?? null,
+      userMessage: apiSession.stateInfo?.userMessage ?? null,
+      changedAt: apiSession.stateInfo?.changedAt ?? null,
+      estimatedDuration: apiSession.stateInfo?.estimatedDuration ?? null,
+    }
+
     // both light and full updates may have the errors list
     if (apiSession.errors) {
       update.errors = apiSession.errors.map(e => ({
diff --git a/app/src/robot/reducer/session.js b/app/src/robot/reducer/session.js
index d803f7ee860..0b5ac9c5beb 100644
--- a/app/src/robot/reducer/session.js
+++ b/app/src/robot/reducer/session.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import type {
   Mount,
   Slot,
   SessionStatus,
+  SessionStatusInfo,
 } from '../types'
 
 import type { InvalidProtocolFileAction } from '../../protocol/types'
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ type Request = {
 export type SessionState = {
   sessionRequest: Request,
   state: SessionStatus,
+  statusInfo: SessionStatusInfo,
   errors: Array<{|
     timestamp: number,
     line: number,
@@ -72,6 +74,12 @@ const INITIAL_STATE: SessionState = {
   // loading a protocol
   sessionRequest: { inProgress: false, error: null },
   state: '',
+  statusInfo: {
+    message: null,
+    changedAt: null,
+    estimatedDuration: null,
+    userMessage: null,
+  },
   errors: [],
   protocolCommands: [],
   protocolCommandsById: {},
@@ -196,6 +204,7 @@ function handleSessionUpdate(
   return {
     ...state,
     state: sessionState,
+    statusInfo: action.payload.statusInfo,
     remoteTimeCompensation,
     startTime,
     protocolCommandsById,
diff --git a/app/src/robot/selectors.js b/app/src/robot/selectors.js
index e270f1852d7..fd0c38595b7 100644
--- a/app/src/robot/selectors.js
+++ b/app/src/robot/selectors.js
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import type {
   LabwareCalibrationStatus,
   LabwareType,
   SessionStatus,
+  SessionStatusInfo,
   SessionModule,
   TiprackByMountMap,
 } from './types'
@@ -83,6 +84,10 @@ export function getSessionStatus(state: State): SessionStatus {
   return session(state).state
 }
 
+export function getSessionStatusInfo(state: State): SessionStatusInfo {
+  return session(state).statusInfo
+}
+
 export function getSessionIsLoaded(state: State): boolean {
   return getSessionStatus(state) !== ('': SessionStatus)
 }
diff --git a/app/src/robot/test/__fixtures__/session.js b/app/src/robot/test/__fixtures__/session.js
index 7009bfd8abc..5a20be76551 100644
--- a/app/src/robot/test/__fixtures__/session.js
+++ b/app/src/robot/test/__fixtures__/session.js
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ export function MockSession() {
     commands: [],
     command_log: {},
     state: 'loaded',
+    stateInfo: {},
     instruments: [],
     containers: [],
 
@@ -20,3 +21,23 @@ export function MockSession() {
     refresh: jest.fn(),
   }
 }
+
+export function MockSessionNoStateInfo() {
+  return {
+    name: 'MOCK SESSION',
+    protocol_text: '# mock protocol text',
+    commands: [],
+    command_log: {},
+    state: 'loaded',
+    instruments: [],
+    containers: [],
+
+    modules: [],
+
+    run: jest.fn(),
+    pause: jest.fn(),
+    resume: jest.fn(),
+    stop: jest.fn(),
+    refresh: jest.fn(),
+  }
+}
diff --git a/app/src/robot/test/api-client.test.js b/app/src/robot/test/api-client.test.js
index 743e47228ac..9fdfbe92e53 100755
--- a/app/src/robot/test/api-client.test.js
+++ b/app/src/robot/test/api-client.test.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { Client as RpcClient } from '../../rpc/client'
 import { NAME, actions, constants } from '../'
 import * as AdminActions from '../../robot-admin/actions'
 
-import { MockSession } from './__fixtures__/session'
+import { MockSession, MockSessionNoStateInfo } from './__fixtures__/session'
 import { MockCalibrationManager } from './__fixtures__/calibration-manager'
 
 import { getLabwareDefBySlot } from '../../protocol/selectors'
@@ -353,6 +353,12 @@ describe('api client', () => {
         {
           name: session.name,
           state: session.state,
+          statusInfo: {
+            message: null,
+            userMessage: null,
+            changedAt: null,
+            estimatedDuration: null,
+          },
           protocolText: session.protocol_text,
           protocolCommands: [],
           protocolCommandsById: {},
@@ -380,6 +386,49 @@ describe('api client', () => {
         .then(() => expect(dispatch).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expectedInitial))
     })
 
+    it('handles sessionResponses without status info', () => {
+      session = MockSessionNoStateInfo()
+      sessionManager.session = session
+      return sendConnect()
+        .then(() => {
+          dispatch.mockClear()
+          sendNotification('session', session)
+        })
+        .then(() => expect(dispatch).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expectedInitial))
+    })
+
+    it('handles sessionResponses with some status info set', () => {
+      session.stateInfo.changedAt = 2
+      session.stateInfo.message = 'test message'
+      const expected = actions.sessionResponse(
+        null,
+        {
+          name: session.name,
+          state: session.state,
+          statusInfo: {
+            message: 'test message',
+            userMessage: null,
+            changedAt: 2,
+            estimatedDuration: null,
+          },
+          protocolText: session.protocol_text,
+          protocolCommands: [],
+          protocolCommandsById: {},
+          pipettesByMount: {},
+          labwareBySlot: {},
+          modulesBySlot: {},
+          apiLevel: [1, 0],
+        },
+        false
+      )
+      return sendConnect()
+        .then(() => {
+          dispatch.mockClear()
+          sendNotification('session', session)
+        })
+        .then(() => expect(dispatch).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expected))
+    })
+
     it('handles connnect without session', () => {
       const notExpected = actions.sessionResponse(
         null,
@@ -686,8 +735,78 @@ describe('api client', () => {
     })
 
     it('sends SESSION_UPDATE if session notification has lastCommand', () => {
-      const update = { state: 'running', startTime: 1, lastCommand: null }
-      const expected = actions.sessionUpdate(update, expect.any(Number))
+      const update = {
+        state: 'running',
+        startTime: 1,
+        lastCommand: null,
+        stateInfo: {},
+      }
+
+      const actionInput = {
+        state: 'running',
+        startTime: 1,
+        lastCommand: null,
+        statusInfo: {
+          message: null,
+          userMessage: null,
+          changedAt: null,
+          estimatedDuration: null,
+        },
+      }
+      const expected = actions.sessionUpdate(actionInput, expect.any(Number))
+
+      return sendConnect()
+        .then(() => sendNotification('session', update))
+        .then(() => expect(dispatch).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expected))
+    })
+
+    it('handles SESSION_UPDATEs with no stateInfo', () => {
+      const update = {
+        state: 'running',
+        startTime: 2,
+        lastCommand: null,
+      }
+
+      const actionInput = {
+        ...update,
+        statusInfo: {
+          message: null,
+          userMessage: null,
+          changedAt: null,
+          estimatedDuration: null,
+        },
+      }
+      const expected = actions.sessionUpdate(actionInput, expect.any(Number))
+
+      return sendConnect()
+        .then(() => sendNotification('session', update))
+        .then(() => expect(dispatch).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expected))
+    })
+
+    it('handles SESSION_UPDATEs with values in stateInfo', () => {
+      const update = {
+        state: 'running',
+        startTime: 2,
+        lastCommand: null,
+        stateInfo: {
+          message: 'hi and hello football fans',
+          userMessage: 'whos ready for some FOOTBALL',
+          changedAt: 2,
+        },
+      }
+
+      const actionInput = {
+        state: 'running',
+        startTime: 2,
+        lastCommand: null,
+        statusInfo: {
+          message: 'hi and hello football fans',
+          userMessage: 'whos ready for some FOOTBALL',
+          changedAt: 2,
+          estimatedDuration: null,
+        },
+      }
+      const expected = actions.sessionUpdate(actionInput, expect.any(Number))
 
       return sendConnect()
         .then(() => sendNotification('session', update))
diff --git a/app/src/robot/test/session-reducer.test.js b/app/src/robot/test/session-reducer.test.js
index def8b808089..0deefd084bb 100644
--- a/app/src/robot/test/session-reducer.test.js
+++ b/app/src/robot/test/session-reducer.test.js
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ describe('robot reducer - session', () => {
       // loading a protocol
       sessionRequest: { inProgress: false, error: null },
       state: '',
+      statusInfo: {
+        message: null,
+        userMessage: null,
+        changedAt: null,
+        estimatedDuration: null,
+      },
       errors: [],
       protocolCommands: [],
       protocolCommandsById: {},
diff --git a/app/src/robot/types.js b/app/src/robot/types.js
index 88f060241dc..9b5103984d5 100644
--- a/app/src/robot/types.js
+++ b/app/src/robot/types.js
@@ -157,8 +157,16 @@ export type ConnectionStatus =
   | CONNECTED
   | DISCONNECTING
 
+export type SessionStatusInfo = {|
+  message: string | null,
+  changedAt: number | null,
+  estimatedDuration: number | null,
+  userMessage: string | null,
+|}
+
 export type SessionUpdate = {|
   state: SessionStatus,
+  statusInfo: SessionStatusInfo,
   startTime: ?number,
   lastCommand: ?{|
     id: number,