diff --git a/.agents/rules/github_actions_workflows.md b/.agents/rules/github_actions_workflows.md
index 85ff59cd85..a61f57d4a1 100644
--- a/.agents/rules/github_actions_workflows.md
+++ b/.agents/rules/github_actions_workflows.md
@@ -6,9 +6,10 @@ globs: ".github/workflows/**,.github/actions/**,.github/dependabot.yml"
 
 # GitHub Actions Workflows Rule
 
-* Use the latest version of referenced actions in `.github/workflows/` and
-  `.github/actions/` (ensuring actions target supported Node.js runtimes such as
-  `node24` rather than deprecated `node20`).
+* Use the latest release of referenced actions and downloaded tools in
+  `.github/workflows/` and `.github/actions/` (check via
+  `gh release view --repo <owner>/<repo>`), targeting supported Node.js
+  runtimes (`node24`, not `node20`).
 * **Dependabot Coverage for Composite Actions**: When adding a composite action
   directory under `.github/actions/<name>`, add `"/.github/actions/<name>"` to
   the `github-actions` `directories` list in `.github/dependabot.yml` (since
diff --git a/.agents/skills/create-pr/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/create-pr/SKILL.md
index 273ace1d58..908511889c 100644
--- a/.agents/skills/create-pr/SKILL.md
+++ b/.agents/skills/create-pr/SKILL.md
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@ to a subagent. NEVER create or draft PRs directly in the main conversation.
 
 ### Instructions
 
-1. **Code Review Audit**: Launch a subagent with `review-code` to verify
-   `git diff` conforms to all rules (news entry in `news/`, line wrapping,
-   copyright, conventions, Starlark formatting). Fix any issues before
-   proceeding.
-2. **Launch Subagent**: Use `invoke_subagent` (`TypeName: "self"`).
+1. **Code Review Subagent**: Before launching the PR subagent, launch a
+   subagent (`invoke_subagent`, `TypeName: "self"`) to run the `review-code`
+   skill (`.agents/skills/review-code/SKILL.md`). Wait for it to finish and fix
+   any issues before proceeding.
+2. **Launch PR Subagent**: Use `invoke_subagent` (`TypeName: "self"`).
 3. **Subagent Prompt Instructions**:
    - Follow `CONTRIBUTING.md` and `@/.agents/rules/pr.md`.
    - **PR Title**: Conventional commits format (`agents:` prefix for agent
diff --git a/.agents/skills/review-code/SKILL.md b/.agents/skills/review-code/SKILL.md
index 41d66d8a3a..ee1d2225d2 100644
--- a/.agents/skills/review-code/SKILL.md
+++ b/.agents/skills/review-code/SKILL.md
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ file from `.agents/skills/review-code/`:
      `.agents/skills/review-code/review-workflows-prompt.md`
    - Focus: Audits workflow files (`.github/**`) and workflow tests against
      `.agents/rules/github_actions_workflows.md` (e.g. `chmod +x` executable
-     permissions, shebangs, action versions, `./.github/actions/setup-bazel`
-     wrapper usage, fallback jobs).
+     permissions, shebangs, action and tool versions,
+     `./.github/actions/setup-bazel` wrapper usage, fallback jobs).
 
 8. **`rules_python` Usage Sub-Agent** (`Role: "rules_python Usage Auditor"`):
    - Prompt file:
diff --git a/.agents/skills/review-code/review-workflows-prompt.md b/.agents/skills/review-code/review-workflows-prompt.md
index c0ef0d0520..c596ac0a80 100644
--- a/.agents/skills/review-code/review-workflows-prompt.md
+++ b/.agents/skills/review-code/review-workflows-prompt.md
@@ -8,10 +8,11 @@ project's workflow rules and conventions:
 2. Verify executable permissions: any script invoked directly as a workflow
    step (e.g. `.github/workflows/*.py`, `*.sh`) must have `chmod +x` (filemode
    `100755`) and an appropriate shebang (e.g. `#!/usr/bin/env python3`).
-3. Verify action versions and Dependabot coverage: ensure steps in
-   `.github/workflows/**` and `.github/actions/**` use the latest action
-   versions, and verify every `.github/actions/<name>` directory is listed under
-   `github-actions` `directories` in `.github/dependabot.yml`.
+3. Verify action and tool versions and Dependabot coverage: ensure
+   `.github/workflows/**` and `.github/actions/**` use the latest release of
+   referenced actions and downloaded tools (check via
+   `gh release view --repo <owner>/<repo>`), and verify every
+   `.github/actions/<name>` directory is in `.github/dependabot.yml`.
 4. Verify fallback jobs: ensure `suppress-no-jobs-ran-error` / `noop` fallback
    jobs exist in conditional workflows.
 5. Check event payload handling: for steps that are a single Python script,