diff --git a/.github/plugin/marketplace.json b/.github/plugin/marketplace.json
index fc9d7e32..223024d5 100644
--- a/.github/plugin/marketplace.json
+++ b/.github/plugin/marketplace.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "name": "hve-core",
   "metadata": {
     "description": "HVE Core",
-    "version": "2.2.0",
+    "version": "2.3.0",
     "pluginRoot": "./plugins"
   },
   "owner": {
@@ -13,61 +13,61 @@
       "name": "ado",
       "source": "./plugins/ado",
       "description": "Azure DevOps work item management, build monitoring, and pull request creation",
-      "version": "2.2.0"
+      "version": "2.3.0"
     },
     {
       "name": "coding-standards",
       "source": "./plugins/coding-standards",
       "description": "Language-specific coding instructions for bash, Bicep, C#, Python, and Terraform projects",
-      "version": "2.2.0"
+      "version": "2.3.0"
     },
     {
       "name": "data-science",
       "source": "./plugins/data-science",
       "description": "Data specification generation, Jupyter notebooks, and Streamlit dashboards",
-      "version": "2.2.0"
+      "version": "2.3.0"
     },
     {
       "name": "git",
       "source": "./plugins/git",
       "description": "Git commit messages, merges, setup, and pull request prompts",
-      "version": "2.2.0"
+      "version": "2.3.0"
     },
     {
       "name": "github",
       "source": "./plugins/github",
       "description": "GitHub issue discovery, triage, sprint planning, and backlog execution agents and prompts",
-      "version": "2.2.0"
+      "version": "2.3.0"
     },
     {
       "name": "hve-core-all",
       "source": "./plugins/hve-core-all",
       "description": "Full bundle of all stable HVE Core agents, prompts, instructions, and skills",
-      "version": "2.2.0"
+      "version": "2.3.0"
     },
     {
       "name": "project-planning",
       "source": "./plugins/project-planning",
       "description": "PRDs, BRDs, ADRs, architecture diagrams, and documentation operations",
-      "version": "2.2.0"
+      "version": "2.3.0"
     },
     {
       "name": "prompt-engineering",
       "source": "./plugins/prompt-engineering",
       "description": "Tools for analyzing, building, and refactoring prompts, agents, and instructions",
-      "version": "2.2.0"
+      "version": "2.3.0"
     },
     {
       "name": "rpi",
       "source": "./plugins/rpi",
       "description": "Research, Plan, Implement, Review workflow agents and prompts for task-driven development",
-      "version": "2.2.0"
+      "version": "2.3.0"
     },
     {
       "name": "security-planning",
       "source": "./plugins/security-planning",
       "description": "Security plan creation, incident response, and risk assessment",
-      "version": "2.2.0"
+      "version": "2.3.0"
     }
   ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index a5d1cf28..9965a341 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "2.2.0"
+  ".": "2.3.0"
 }
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3f08ffd1..e2983a91 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -12,6 +12,46 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 > **Note:** This file is automatically maintained by [release-please](https://github.com/googleapis/release-please). Do not edit manually.
 
+## [2.3.0](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/compare/hve-core-v2.2.0...hve-core-v2.3.0) (2026-02-13)
+
+
+### ✨ Features
+
+* **agents:** add GitHub backlog management pipeline ([#448](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/448)) ([2b4d123](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/2b4d1232f1fef5f2c858ccec23582bfed93db47f))
+* **docs:** define inactivity closure policies for issues and PRs ([#452](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/452)) ([5e710fd](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/5e710fdb389632283bc50eb17c31b34d4d7535f1))
+* **extension:** implement collection-based plugin distribution system ([#439](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/439)) ([3156d98](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/3156d989fcde1e181d04ebf56ab4ad29b0084d04))
+* **instructions:** replace EVEN/ODD hardcoding with runtime milestone discovery protocol ([#486](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/486)) ([ae95eb2](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/ae95eb27ec37d53ad57ca81028a89e241ba891f9))
+* **plugin:** support Copilot CLI plugin generation from collection manifests ([#496](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/496)) ([e6cee85](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/e6cee852f9118caa4ff8e778d8bf40e1d61bb69e))
+* **scripts:** enhance on-create.sh to install actionlint and PowerShell modules ([#500](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/500)) ([67585f5](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/67585f5a7c29605c5d38424436c8b34e5258efcc))
+
+
+### 🐛 Bug Fixes
+
+* **docs:** replace broken relative link with inline code reference ([#465](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/465)) ([8133b36](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/8133b3634f37497ba8958c22127aa6e97de422d4))
+* **instructions:** prevent local-only paths from leaking into GitHub issues ([#489](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/489)) ([497d2fe](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/497d2feb4333b25d272225f78ce489ab82fffc02))
+* **workflows:** prevent release-please infinite loop on main branch ([#470](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/470)) ([134bdd6](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/134bdd6046ba8e954916b8ed4c7b6a03b593fa94))
+* **workflows:** remove release-please skip guard that prevents tag creation ([#511](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/511)) ([5e53271](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/5e532716eb8b14bf6a1e5e381a746f4ce35cdf7d))
+
+
+### 📚 Documentation
+
+* **agents:** add GitHub Backlog Manager documentation and agent catalog ([#503](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/503)) ([5e818ce](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/5e818cefcfe1daf83fa2983d2fadf843e8406872))
+* align CONTRIBUTING.md with docs/contributing/ guides ([#445](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/445)) ([73ef6aa](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/73ef6aa63b2e39a58d605edff87caba1fbc1cc46))
+
+
+### ♻️ Refactoring
+
+* **scripts:** refactor dev-tools and lib scripts to use CIHelpers module ([#482](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/482)) ([fdf9145](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/fdf9145175f80fe1e8d1674d358b0c255d0de8db))
+* **scripts:** standardize PowerShell entry point guard pattern ([#477](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/477)) ([6b84a8e](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/6b84a8e49193d266411df9e4b8e8b1be2369eed2))
+
+
+### 🔧 Maintenance
+
+* **config:** standardize action mappings in artifact-retention.yml ([#487](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/487)) ([7927db2](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/7927db28105f384d1445e5f42eeb5ad6bd129542))
+* **deps-dev:** bump cspell from 9.6.2 to 9.6.4 in the npm-dependencies group ([#461](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/461)) ([c788095](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/c7880959cb62f5cea343506b9bbe8dc5b39f78a6))
+* **deps:** bump actions/setup-python from 5.1.1 to 6.2.0 in the github-actions group ([#462](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/462)) ([69ef3c9](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/69ef3c9217f1b4e0f8bc46c7f553e9ed6f62ed92))
+* **security:** add SBOM artifact retention policy ([#479](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/479)) ([8031557](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/commit/803155739be3fe56e4cc2a9d6ea921d1e0220321)), closes [#453](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/453)
+
 ## [2.2.0](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/compare/hve-core-v2.1.0...hve-core-v2.2.0) (2026-02-06)
 
 
diff --git a/extension/templates/package.template.json b/extension/templates/package.template.json
index d184f3c5..f91a76d1 100644
--- a/extension/templates/package.template.json
+++ b/extension/templates/package.template.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     "workspace",
     "ui"
   ],
-  "version": "2.2.0",
+  "version": "2.3.0",
   "description": "AI-powered chat agents, prompts, and instructions for hybrid virtual environments",
   "publisher": "ise-hve-essentials",
   "repository": {
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 6d1ccf5d..85826aef 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "hve-core",
-  "version": "2.2.0",
+  "version": "2.3.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "hve-core",
-      "version": "2.2.0",
+      "version": "2.3.0",
       "license": "MIT",
       "devDependencies": {
         "cspell": "9.6.4",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index d122690f..3bff76d7 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "hve-core",
-  "version": "2.2.0",
+  "version": "2.3.0",
   "description": "HVE Core",
   "private": true,
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/plugins/ado/.github/plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/ado/.github/plugin/plugin.json
index f3dc6f3e..e452d0b7 100644
--- a/plugins/ado/.github/plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/ado/.github/plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
   "name": "ado",
   "description": "Azure DevOps work item management, build monitoring, and pull request creation",
-  "version": "2.2.0"
+  "version": "2.3.0"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/coding-standards/.github/plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/coding-standards/.github/plugin/plugin.json
index 3ec58ae3..baa3ec6f 100644
--- a/plugins/coding-standards/.github/plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/coding-standards/.github/plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
   "name": "coding-standards",
   "description": "Language-specific coding instructions for bash, Bicep, C#, Python, and Terraform projects",
-  "version": "2.2.0"
+  "version": "2.3.0"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/data-science/.github/plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/data-science/.github/plugin/plugin.json
index 45ae59c2..24e94e06 100644
--- a/plugins/data-science/.github/plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/data-science/.github/plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
   "name": "data-science",
   "description": "Data specification generation, Jupyter notebooks, and Streamlit dashboards",
-  "version": "2.2.0"
+  "version": "2.3.0"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/git/.github/plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/git/.github/plugin/plugin.json
index 60b68ca6..a79e3660 100644
--- a/plugins/git/.github/plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/git/.github/plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
   "name": "git",
   "description": "Git commit messages, merges, setup, and pull request prompts",
-  "version": "2.2.0"
+  "version": "2.3.0"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/github/.github/plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/github/.github/plugin/plugin.json
index 85bbece5..0cea30b9 100644
--- a/plugins/github/.github/plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/github/.github/plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
   "name": "github",
   "description": "GitHub issue discovery, triage, sprint planning, and backlog execution agents and prompts",
-  "version": "2.2.0"
+  "version": "2.3.0"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/hve-core-all/.github/plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/hve-core-all/.github/plugin/plugin.json
index dbbba49d..9cec2a09 100644
--- a/plugins/hve-core-all/.github/plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/hve-core-all/.github/plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
   "name": "hve-core-all",
   "description": "Full bundle of all stable HVE Core agents, prompts, instructions, and skills",
-  "version": "2.2.0"
+  "version": "2.3.0"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/project-planning/.github/plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/project-planning/.github/plugin/plugin.json
index a2a65a0f..3ca477fc 100644
--- a/plugins/project-planning/.github/plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/project-planning/.github/plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
   "name": "project-planning",
   "description": "PRDs, BRDs, ADRs, architecture diagrams, and documentation operations",
-  "version": "2.2.0"
+  "version": "2.3.0"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/prompt-engineering/.github/plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/prompt-engineering/.github/plugin/plugin.json
index c9215199..049f5594 100644
--- a/plugins/prompt-engineering/.github/plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/prompt-engineering/.github/plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
   "name": "prompt-engineering",
   "description": "Tools for analyzing, building, and refactoring prompts, agents, and instructions",
-  "version": "2.2.0"
+  "version": "2.3.0"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/rpi/.github/plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/rpi/.github/plugin/plugin.json
index 1a3e2024..ffc893f6 100644
--- a/plugins/rpi/.github/plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/rpi/.github/plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
   "name": "rpi",
   "description": "Research, Plan, Implement, Review workflow agents and prompts for task-driven development",
-  "version": "2.2.0"
+  "version": "2.3.0"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/security-planning/.github/plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/security-planning/.github/plugin/plugin.json
index c333d1ef..0af2106c 100644
--- a/plugins/security-planning/.github/plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/security-planning/.github/plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
   "name": "security-planning",
   "description": "Security plan creation, incident response, and risk assessment",
-  "version": "2.2.0"
+  "version": "2.3.0"
 }
\ No newline at end of file