diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate-pr.yml b/.github/workflows/validate-pr.yml
index 0ab75a73..91428e75 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validate-pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate-pr.yml
@@ -26,6 +26,21 @@ jobs:
       - name: Clean Build with Gradle
         run: ./gradlew clean build
 
+      - name: Publish Build to MavenLocal  # used by the samples
+        run: ./gradlew publishToMavenLocal
+
+      - name: Build Kotlin-MCP-Client Sample
+        working-directory: ./samples/kotlin-mcp-client
+        run: ./gradlew clean build
+
+      - name: Build Kotlin-MCP-Server Sample
+        working-directory: ./samples/kotlin-mcp-server
+        run: ./gradlew clean build
+
+      - name: Build Weather-Stdio-Server Sample
+        working-directory: ./samples/kotlin-mcp-client
+        run: ./gradlew clean build
+
       - name: Disable Auto-Merge on Fail
         if: failure()
         run: gh pr merge --disable-auto "$PR_URL"
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index b1e985ea..88662387 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -81,6 +81,12 @@ See [How to Write a Git Commit Message](https://chris.beams.io/posts/git-commit/
 * Run `./gradlew test` to test the module and speed up development.
 * Run `./gradlew build` to build the project, which also runs all the tests.
 
+### Running Samples with Local Changes
+
+All sample projects include mavenLocal() in their repositories and will prioritize locally published builds by default.
+
+* Run `./gradlew publishToMavenLocal` to test the samples with local changes to the SDK
+
 ## Contacting maintainers
 
 * If something cannot be done, not convenient, or does not work — submit an [issue](#submitting-issues).
diff --git a/samples/kotlin-mcp-client/settings.gradle.kts b/samples/kotlin-mcp-client/settings.gradle.kts
index 39d0cc29..61dbfa51 100644
--- a/samples/kotlin-mcp-client/settings.gradle.kts
+++ b/samples/kotlin-mcp-client/settings.gradle.kts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ plugins {
 
 dependencyResolutionManagement {
     repositories {
+        mavenLocal()
         mavenCentral()
     }
 }
diff --git a/samples/kotlin-mcp-server/build.gradle.kts b/samples/kotlin-mcp-server/build.gradle.kts
index 10520c20..64e3397c 100644
--- a/samples/kotlin-mcp-server/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/samples/kotlin-mcp-server/build.gradle.kts
@@ -4,17 +4,13 @@ import org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.ExperimentalKotlinGradlePluginApi
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.gradle.ExperimentalWasmDsl
 
 plugins {
-    kotlin("multiplatform") version "2.1.20"
-    kotlin("plugin.serialization") version "2.1.20"
+    kotlin("multiplatform") version "2.2.0"
+    kotlin("plugin.serialization") version "2.2.0"
 }
 
 group = "org.example"
 version = "0.1.0"
 
-repositories {
-    mavenCentral()
-}
-
 val jvmMainClass = "Main_jvmKt"
 
 kotlin {
diff --git a/samples/kotlin-mcp-server/settings.gradle.kts b/samples/kotlin-mcp-server/settings.gradle.kts
index 6efbc10a..83e5ab2f 100644
--- a/samples/kotlin-mcp-server/settings.gradle.kts
+++ b/samples/kotlin-mcp-server/settings.gradle.kts
@@ -2,3 +2,10 @@ plugins {
     id("org.gradle.toolchains.foojay-resolver-convention") version "0.8.0"
 }
 rootProject.name = "kotlin-mcp-server"
+
+dependencyResolutionManagement {
+  repositories {
+    mavenLocal()
+    mavenCentral()
+  }
+}
diff --git a/samples/weather-stdio-server/settings.gradle.kts b/samples/weather-stdio-server/settings.gradle.kts
index 015fa3f2..210f5f43 100644
--- a/samples/weather-stdio-server/settings.gradle.kts
+++ b/samples/weather-stdio-server/settings.gradle.kts
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ plugins {
 }
 
 dependencyResolutionManagement {
-    repositories {
-        mavenCentral()
-    }
+  repositories {
+    mavenLocal()
+    mavenCentral()
+  }
 }