diff --git a/src/decorate.js b/src/decorate.js
index 960a6d3..fa1bd5c 100644
--- a/src/decorate.js
+++ b/src/decorate.js
@@ -10,9 +10,6 @@
  * governing permissions and limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import { toCamelCase, toClassName } from './utils.js';
-import { readBlockConfig } from './block-utils.js';
-
 /**
  * Add <img> for icon, prefixed with codeBasePath and optional prefix.
  * @param {Element} [span] span element with icon classes
@@ -65,20 +62,5 @@ export function decorateSections(main) {
     section.classList.add('section');
     section.dataset.sectionStatus = 'initialized';
     section.style.display = 'none';
-
-    // Process section metadata
-    const sectionMeta = section.querySelector('div.section-metadata');
-    if (sectionMeta) {
-      const meta = readBlockConfig(sectionMeta);
-      Object.keys(meta).forEach((key) => {
-        if (key === 'style') {
-          const styles = meta.style.split(',').filter((style) => style).map((style) => toClassName(style.trim()));
-          styles.forEach((style) => section.classList.add(style));
-        } else {
-          section.dataset[toCamelCase(key)] = meta[key];
-        }
-      });
-      sectionMeta.parentNode.remove();
-    }
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/decorate/decorateSections.test.html b/test/decorate/decorateSections.test.html
index 894943b..78b9b51 100644
--- a/test/decorate/decorateSections.test.html
+++ b/test/decorate/decorateSections.test.html
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ <h2 id="this-is-another-headline-here-for-more-content">This is another headline
       </div>
     </div>
   </div>
-  <div>
+  <div class="highlight afterempty" data-anchor="highlights">
     <h2 id="boilerplate-highlights">Boilerplate Highlights?</h2>
     <p>Find some of our favorite staff picks below:</p>
     <div class="cards">
@@ -70,16 +70,6 @@ <h2 id="boilerplate-highlights">Boilerplate Highlights?</h2>
         </div>
       </div>
     </div>
-    <div class="section-metadata">
-      <div>
-        <div>Style</div>
-        <div>highlight,,afterempty</div>
-      </div>
-      <div>
-        <div>Anchor</div>
-        <div>highlights</div>
-      </div>
-    </div>
   </div>
   <script type="module">
     /* eslint-env mocha */
@@ -90,7 +80,6 @@ <h2 id="boilerplate-highlights">Boilerplate Highlights?</h2>
     runTests(() => {
       it('decorates sections', () => {
         const { body } = document;
-        const meta = body.querySelector('.section-metadata').parentElement;
         decorateSections(body);
         const sections = body.querySelectorAll(':scope > div');
         sections.forEach((section) => {
@@ -107,10 +96,11 @@ <h2 id="boilerplate-highlights">Boilerplate Highlights?</h2>
             }
           });
         });
-        // section metadata is applied
-        expect(meta.classList.contains('highlight')).to.be.true;
-        expect(meta.classList.contains('afterempty')).to.be.true;
-        expect(meta.dataset.anchor).to.equal('highlights');
+        // pre-applied section metadata is preserved
+        const styled = sections[1];
+        expect(styled.classList.contains('highlight')).to.be.true;
+        expect(styled.classList.contains('afterempty')).to.be.true;
+        expect(styled.dataset.anchor).to.equal('highlights');
       });
     });
   </script>