Agent Framework Python Release

Cuts a Python release PR for the microsoft/agent-framework monorepo.

Core principle: CHANGELOG drives bumps

No more universal lockstep. A package only bumps if it has a CHANGELOG entry this cycle. Draft the CHANGELOG first, then derive the bump list from it.

Exceptions to selective bumping (these stay coupled regardless of per-package changes):

• Root agent-framework is coupled to agent-framework-core via agent-framework-core[all]==X.Y.Z (exact pin in python/pyproject.toml). If core bumps, root bumps. Root may also bump independently for its own changes (docs/metadata/extras).
• Beta-tier cohort bumps are still allowed when the user explicitly wants a fresh date stamp across all betas for cohort signaling — but this is a deliberate user decision per release, not a default.

If the user explicitly states which packages to bump (or hands over a PR list per package), treat that as authoritative.

Lifecycle tiers and version rules

Use python/.github/skills/python-package-management/SKILL.md as the source of truth for lifecycle version patterns, date-stamp cutoffs, classifier alignment, and internal dependency updates.