[VisLab]

• CHANGELOG: the 1.3.0 entry, reviewed against every PR merged since 1.2.0 and checked against the code.
• A schema bundled with hedtools always loads from the bundled file in the default cache, and a cache populated by an older hedtools gets the newly bundled schemas; a stale or prerelease cached copy (such as an 8.5.0 prerelease) no longer shadows the release.
• Tests: HED 8.5.0 unit regression cases, the bundled-schema cache cases, and the three column-name deprecations in the registry.
• User guide: a schema listed twice in a merge group fails. Comment and docstring corrections in error_types and base_input.

[Copilot]

🟢 Approval recommended

The focused cache changes have regression coverage, and the remaining feedback consists only of non-blocking release-note corrections.

2 open issues

• Clarify distinct padded values are reported once per column · New
• Emit deprecation warning for SCHEMA_MISSING_EXTRA_VALUE alias · New

What changed in this PR

Prepares hedtools 1.3.0 with release documentation, bundled-schema cache fixes, and targeted regression coverage.

Changes:

• Adds release notes covering compatibility changes, features, fixes, and deprecations.
• Prioritizes bundled schemas over stale default-cache copies and populates older caches with newly bundled schemas.
• Adds cache, HED 8.5.0 unit, and deprecation tests; corrects documentation and comments.

File	Description
tests/​validator/​test_tag_validator.py	Adds HED 8.5.0 unit-validation regressions.
tests/​test_deprecations.py	Registers three column-name deprecations.
tests/​schema/​test_hed_schema_io.py	Covers stale caches, newly bundled schemas, and custom folders.
hed/​schema/​hed_cache.py	Prioritizes bundled schemas and refreshes incomplete default caches.
hed/​models/​base_input.py	Corrects the missing-value parsing docstring.
hed/​errors/​error_types.py	Clarifies the deprecated error-code alias comment.
docs/​user_guide.md	Corrects duplicate-schema merge documentation.
CHANGELOG.md	Documents the 1.3.0 release and migration guidance.

_{Review effort: Balanced}