diff --git a/.changeset/nice-stamps-win.md b/.changeset/nice-stamps-win.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ca22c6dd2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/nice-stamps-win.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+"@fluentui-react-native/interactive-hooks": patch
+"@fluentui-react-native/use-slot": patch
+"@fluentui-react-native/button": patch
+"@fluentui-react-native/switch": patch
+"@fluentui-react-native/chip": patch
+"@fluentui-react-native/framework-base": patch
+"@fluentui-react-native/adapters": patch
+---
+
+Change base furn packages to stricter types
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr.yml b/.github/workflows/pr.yml
index 8976dc9d51..37568cce15 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ on: pull_request
 permissions:
   contents: read
 
+env:
+  VisualStudioVersion: '17.0'
+  WindowsTargetPlatformVersion: '10.0.26100.0'
+
 concurrency:
   group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
   cancel-in-progress: true
@@ -162,7 +166,7 @@ jobs:
 
   windows:
     name: Windows PR
-    runs-on: windows-latest
+    runs-on: windows-2022
     timeout-minutes: 60
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
@@ -212,7 +216,7 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: apps/fluent-tester
 
       - name: Run E2E RNW tests
-        shell: pwsh
+        shell: powershell
         run: |
           .\launchE2EWindows.ps1 -enableDumpFiles
         working-directory: apps/E2E
diff --git a/.yarnrc.yml b/.yarnrc.yml
index 24e7f3c211..43a93b4fc9 100644
--- a/.yarnrc.yml
+++ b/.yarnrc.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ catalog:
   "@rnx-kit/oxlint-config": ^1.0.3
   "@rnx-kit/reporter": ^0.2.0
   "@rnx-kit/tools-packages": ^0.1.3
-  "@rnx-kit/tools-react-native": ^2.3.7
+  "@rnx-kit/tools-react-native": ^2.3.8
   "@rnx-kit/tools-typescript": ^0.2.0
   "@rnx-kit/tools-workspaces": ^0.2.3
   "@rnx-kit/tsconfig": ^3.0.3
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ catalog:
   knip: ^6.12.1
   lage: ^2.14.19
   oxc-resolver: ^11.17.0
+  react-native-test-app: ^5.3.3
   rimraf: ^6.1.2
   webdriverio: ^9.24.0
 
diff --git a/apps/fluent-tester/ios/Podfile.lock b/apps/fluent-tester/ios/Podfile.lock
index 2e677092e2..d667ad465d 100644
--- a/apps/fluent-tester/ios/Podfile.lock
+++ b/apps/fluent-tester/ios/Podfile.lock
@@ -4,15 +4,15 @@ PODS:
   - fast_float (8.0.0)
   - FBLazyVector (0.81.6)
   - fmt (11.0.2)
-  - FRNAppearanceAdditions (0.8.3):
+  - FRNAppearanceAdditions (0.8.4):
     - React
-  - FRNAvatar (0.22.3):
+  - FRNAvatar (0.22.4):
     - MicrosoftFluentUI (= 0.13.1)
     - React
-  - FRNDatePicker (0.12.3):
+  - FRNDatePicker (0.12.4):
     - MicrosoftFluentUI (= 0.13.1)
     - React
-  - FRNFontMetrics (0.7.3):
+  - FRNFontMetrics (0.7.4):
     - React
   - glog (0.3.5)
   - hermes-engine (0.81.6):
@@ -2424,7 +2424,7 @@ PODS:
     - React-perflogger (= 0.81.6)
     - React-utils (= 0.81.6)
     - SocketRocket
-  - ReactNativeHost (0.5.17):
+  - ReactNativeHost (0.5.19):
     - boost
     - DoubleConversion
     - fast_float
@@ -2453,7 +2453,7 @@ PODS:
     - ReactCommon/turbomodule/core
     - SocketRocket
     - Yoga
-  - ReactTestApp-DevSupport (5.1.10):
+  - ReactTestApp-DevSupport (5.3.3):
     - React-Core
     - React-jsi
   - ReactTestApp-Resources (1.0.0-dev)
@@ -2538,7 +2538,7 @@ DEPENDENCIES:
   - ReactAppDependencyProvider (from `build/generated/ios`)
   - ReactCodegen (from `build/generated/ios`)
   - ReactCommon/turbomodule/core (from `../node_modules/react-native/ReactCommon`)
-  - "ReactNativeHost (from `../../../node_modules/.store/react-native-test-app-virtual-d4246a9700/node_modules/@rnx-kit/react-native-host`)"
+  - "ReactNativeHost (from `../../../node_modules/.store/react-native-test-app-virtual-6d85e861d1/node_modules/@rnx-kit/react-native-host`)"
   - ReactTestApp-DevSupport (from `../node_modules/react-native-test-app`)
   - ReactTestApp-Resources (from `..`)
   - RNSVG (from `../node_modules/react-native-svg`)
@@ -2701,7 +2701,7 @@ EXTERNAL SOURCES:
   ReactCommon:
     :path: "../node_modules/react-native/ReactCommon"
   ReactNativeHost:
-    :path: "../../../node_modules/.store/react-native-test-app-virtual-d4246a9700/node_modules/@rnx-kit/react-native-host"
+    :path: "../../../node_modules/.store/react-native-test-app-virtual-6d85e861d1/node_modules/@rnx-kit/react-native-host"
   ReactTestApp-DevSupport:
     :path: "../node_modules/react-native-test-app"
   ReactTestApp-Resources:
@@ -2713,15 +2713,15 @@ EXTERNAL SOURCES:
 
 SPEC CHECKSUMS:
   boost: 7e761d76ca2ce687f7cc98e698152abd03a18f90
-  DoubleConversion: cb417026b2400c8f53ae97020b2be961b59470cb
+  DoubleConversion: 76ab83afb40bddeeee456813d9c04f67f78771b5
   fast_float: b32c788ed9c6a8c584d114d0047beda9664e7cc6
   FBLazyVector: 812782f0506ba4c4a1b9f4b793e6de1bfdfc4c25
   fmt: a40bb5bd0294ea969aaaba240a927bd33d878cdd
-  FRNAppearanceAdditions: 60f9fb4552fb3d92a63df00aa8f76fd6e8efb942
-  FRNAvatar: ffa0facb219806b0e5083d2388bc61e590f5df19
-  FRNDatePicker: 312243694338f941080b15f6fac4d0dac8f54137
-  FRNFontMetrics: 363f87c2aee015325a399388dda266ed8f1f65a0
-  glog: 5683914934d5b6e4240e497e0f4a3b42d1854183
+  FRNAppearanceAdditions: 58fe872ed668bac5b1f6b3f81b61c7f9fccd6788
+  FRNAvatar: 586585a440e2b23c9ac872fd1fa2ddb7819cd7bd
+  FRNDatePicker: 6cf33c0f00f68606e2e301689670a7f90a9e5f37
+  FRNFontMetrics: dba3c15a2feef87ee987d7c502cc3e2ba15adb5b
+  glog: fdfdfe5479092de0c4bdbebedd9056951f092c4f
   hermes-engine: 7219f6e751ad6ec7f3d7ec121830ee34dae40749
   MicrosoftFluentUI: dde98d8ed3fc306d9ddd0a6f0bc0c1f24fe5275e
   RCT-Folly: 846fda9475e61ec7bcbf8a3fe81edfcaeb090669
@@ -2787,13 +2787,13 @@ SPEC CHECKSUMS:
   ReactAppDependencyProvider: 50d5506ddd091d4ed24b88b661ce9a0e17347357
   ReactCodegen: dae737e6acce32f4e6dda1c5c7ad0e7fd7235b71
   ReactCommon: 8fafefb37d562f9e4bbbc9081ca4501f178a97ec
-  ReactNativeHost: 66a23d7106b451f1a1087f565a45c839abef1e73
-  ReactTestApp-DevSupport: 2852f266ad4b393124413d4290c16aff35892cf4
+  ReactNativeHost: 8680b5bbc3afdbfeccc206ed0f3230d7c3df691b
+  ReactTestApp-DevSupport: 0527915bd439c17242bab26d2136cc837b5eebd2
   ReactTestApp-Resources: de7bab7391b329e4e22614a22a7d350b5f08939c
   RNSVG: 7ee150379dc2a5ed4c9fdac92a5d6efab98e9cf7
   SocketRocket: d4aabe649be1e368d1318fdf28a022d714d65748
   Yoga: 3196a843cc5f4bc433f1a41cf17cdf804a01a529
 
-PODFILE CHECKSUM: b3aedc74b779b6e577dfef780f9684a0bb0daaae
+PODFILE CHECKSUM: fec1d0c29d19b06181402b781cf7db0e3b52a2c8
 
 COCOAPODS: 1.16.2
diff --git a/apps/fluent-tester/macos/Podfile.lock b/apps/fluent-tester/macos/Podfile.lock
index 670b26132f..def1409b60 100644
--- a/apps/fluent-tester/macos/Podfile.lock
+++ b/apps/fluent-tester/macos/Podfile.lock
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ PODS:
   - fast_float (8.0.0)
   - FBLazyVector (0.81.2)
   - fmt (11.0.2)
-  - FRNAvatar (0.22.3):
+  - FRNAvatar (0.22.4):
     - MicrosoftFluentUI (= 0.13.1)
     - React
-  - FRNCallout (0.28.3):
+  - FRNCallout (0.28.4):
     - boost
     - DoubleConversion
     - fast_float
@@ -36,13 +36,13 @@ PODS:
     - ReactCommon/turbomodule/core
     - SocketRocket
     - Yoga
-  - FRNCheckbox (0.18.3):
+  - FRNCheckbox (0.18.4):
     - React
-  - FRNMenuButton (0.14.3):
+  - FRNMenuButton (0.14.4):
     - React
-  - FRNRadioButton (0.22.3):
+  - FRNRadioButton (0.22.4):
     - React
-  - FRNVibrancyView (0.4.3):
+  - FRNVibrancyView (0.4.4):
     - React
   - glog (0.3.5)
   - hermes-engine (0.81.5):
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ PODS:
     - fmt (= 11.0.2)
     - glog
   - RCTDeprecation (0.81.2)
-  - RCTFocusZone (0.22.3):
+  - RCTFocusZone (0.22.4):
     - React
   - RCTRequired (0.81.2)
   - RCTTypeSafety (0.81.2):
@@ -2394,7 +2394,7 @@ PODS:
     - ReactCommon/turbomodule/core
     - SocketRocket
     - Yoga
-  - ReactTestApp-DevSupport (5.2.3):
+  - ReactTestApp-DevSupport (5.3.3):
     - React-Core
     - React-jsi
   - ReactTestApp-Resources (1.0.0-dev)
@@ -2482,7 +2482,7 @@ DEPENDENCIES:
   - ReactAppDependencyProvider (from `build/generated/ios`)
   - ReactCodegen (from `build/generated/ios`)
   - ReactCommon/turbomodule/core (from `../node_modules/react-native-macos/ReactCommon`)
-  - "ReactNativeHost (from `../../../node_modules/.store/react-native-test-app-virtual-779a5f15d5/node_modules/@rnx-kit/react-native-host`)"
+  - "ReactNativeHost (from `../../../node_modules/.store/react-native-test-app-virtual-6d85e861d1/node_modules/@rnx-kit/react-native-host`)"
   - ReactTestApp-DevSupport (from `../node_modules/react-native-test-app`)
   - ReactTestApp-Resources (from `..`)
   - RNSVG (from `../node_modules/react-native-svg`)
@@ -2651,7 +2651,7 @@ EXTERNAL SOURCES:
   ReactCommon:
     :path: "../node_modules/react-native-macos/ReactCommon"
   ReactNativeHost:
-    :path: "../../../node_modules/.store/react-native-test-app-virtual-779a5f15d5/node_modules/@rnx-kit/react-native-host"
+    :path: "../../../node_modules/.store/react-native-test-app-virtual-6d85e861d1/node_modules/@rnx-kit/react-native-host"
   ReactTestApp-DevSupport:
     :path: "../node_modules/react-native-test-app"
   ReactTestApp-Resources:
@@ -2663,22 +2663,22 @@ EXTERNAL SOURCES:
 
 SPEC CHECKSUMS:
   boost: cea1d4f90a3a59537f3deb03ff5656489d7133dd
-  DoubleConversion: d31b1eb37f6d6f456530c4fd9124b857d6889cab
+  DoubleConversion: 5b92c4507c560bb62e7aa1acdf2785ea3ff08b3b
   fast_float: 20817c22759af6ac8d4d67e6e059b8b499953656
   FBLazyVector: 0e3076dbb16169b0afc2d701a24a526423b5e76b
   fmt: 24e7591456deb60b4a77518f83d9a916ac84223f
-  FRNAvatar: ffa0facb219806b0e5083d2388bc61e590f5df19
-  FRNCallout: bc2178e4478504e21c01a3c1c8617c91783eae8c
-  FRNCheckbox: 1cba85c9c8c75257970f8ffcc4a5e2602c22be7c
-  FRNMenuButton: 709f3218ce9a421c154ea0570acbeb3f535629d3
-  FRNRadioButton: a0e58ac8a7be290778a30add5bdf41dc245e3483
-  FRNVibrancyView: 96debdb9a1d2d9315c25748450a33fe2cb8b6321
-  glog: 0b31c25149b9d350b2666c7d459229861a00ec07
+  FRNAvatar: 586585a440e2b23c9ac872fd1fa2ddb7819cd7bd
+  FRNCallout: f3234f07e6f49334c0f1de7cb7185494f2915db5
+  FRNCheckbox: a5afb9bb4e6405d39a30f997f7e69d6e5672533d
+  FRNMenuButton: e9e49a3afa5eb5ecbe4a36c41047bce763f661c7
+  FRNRadioButton: 6f7db3424604a413b4cca73c5a22033c79f92d43
+  FRNVibrancyView: a9cf18fcaee2a7d9f9ea292924ebf1b3acb0a5b2
+  glog: ba31c1afa7dcf1915a109861bccdb4421be6175b
   hermes-engine: 9f4dfe93326146a1c99eb535b1cb0b857a3cd172
   MicrosoftFluentUI: dde98d8ed3fc306d9ddd0a6f0bc0c1f24fe5275e
   RCT-Folly: c803cf33238782d5fd21a5e02d44f64068e0e130
   RCTDeprecation: b60b889eafa75f46c3d6be5332681efbb16ad0c7
-  RCTFocusZone: 1b8ab01688bbb8ef6357bd8789e5c6f38ddac4d9
+  RCTFocusZone: a6d62c46c530e790479915bc9faa578137e9e2a6
   RCTRequired: 070d7f0ef937e7a93aab20761cef55419f16b5de
   RCTTypeSafety: dd2ad1eb0c0c01ba41222d115be141f9a348c636
   React: 304df3d34c8c0281fd1fd3a506e69f234095425d
@@ -2741,7 +2741,7 @@ SPEC CHECKSUMS:
   ReactCodegen: 9cb74b74196a04d189f74995f8f11d1228316fb4
   ReactCommon: 9f8189efbc1aa52926df2791a2e47b3340353849
   ReactNativeHost: 8680b5bbc3afdbfeccc206ed0f3230d7c3df691b
-  ReactTestApp-DevSupport: a966d21f704e95b197479b4f47cad1cf25808385
+  ReactTestApp-DevSupport: 0527915bd439c17242bab26d2136cc837b5eebd2
   ReactTestApp-Resources: 7625eab22d0a702577b048d60b5fb3f2e2f5b2a7
   RNSVG: 7ee150379dc2a5ed4c9fdac92a5d6efab98e9cf7
   SocketRocket: d4aabe649be1e368d1318fdf28a022d714d65748
diff --git a/apps/fluent-tester/package.json b/apps/fluent-tester/package.json
index ec7bd00a53..b61acd93e1 100644
--- a/apps/fluent-tester/package.json
+++ b/apps/fluent-tester/package.json
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@
     "oxc-resolver": "catalog:",
     "path-dirname": "^1.0.2",
     "react-native-svg-transformer": "^1.0.0",
-    "react-native-test-app": "^5.2.3",
+    "react-native-test-app": "catalog:",
     "react-test-renderer": "19.1.4",
     "webdriverio": "catalog:"
   },
diff --git a/apps/tester-core/package.json b/apps/tester-core/package.json
index 3566f47395..a8432fe904 100644
--- a/apps/tester-core/package.json
+++ b/apps/tester-core/package.json
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@
     "react-native-macos": "^0.81.0",
     "react-native-svg": "^15.12.1",
     "react-native-svg-transformer": "^1.0.0",
-    "react-native-test-app": "^5.2.3",
+    "react-native-test-app": "catalog:",
     "react-native-windows": "^0.81.0",
     "react-test-renderer": "19.1.4",
     "webdriverio": "catalog:"
diff --git a/apps/win32/package.json b/apps/win32/package.json
index aec0df3555..4473e8445a 100644
--- a/apps/win32/package.json
+++ b/apps/win32/package.json
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
     "metro-config": "^0.83.3",
     "oxc-resolver": "catalog:",
     "react-native-svg-transformer": "^1.0.0",
-    "react-native-test-app": "^5.2.3",
+    "react-native-test-app": "catalog:",
     "react-test-renderer": "19.1.4",
     "rimraf": "catalog:"
   },
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/component-patterns/phasedComponent.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/component-patterns/phasedComponent.ts
index 6193707cd2..8614211e5d 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/component-patterns/phasedComponent.ts
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/component-patterns/phasedComponent.ts
@@ -17,20 +17,22 @@ export function getPhasedRender<TProps>(component: React.ComponentType<TProps>):
     // if this has a phased render function, return it
     if ((component as PhasedComponent<TProps>)._phasedRender) {
       return (component as PhasedComponent<TProps>)._phasedRender;
-    } else if ((component as ComposableFunction<TProps>)._staged) {
+    } else {
       // for backward compatibility check for staged render and return a wrapper that maps the signature
       const staged = (component as ComposableFunction<TProps>)._staged;
-      return (props: TProps) => {
-        const { children, ...rest } = props as React.PropsWithChildren<TProps>;
-        const inner = staged(rest as TProps, ...React.Children.toArray(children));
-        // staged render functions were not consistently marking contents as composable, though they were treated
-        // as such in useHook. To maintain compatibility we mark the returned function as composable here. This was
-        // dangerous, but this shim is necessary for backward compatibility. The newer pattern is explicit about this.
-        if (typeof inner === 'function' && !(inner as LegacyDirectComponent<TProps>)._canCompose) {
-          return Object.assign(inner, { _canCompose: true });
-        }
-        return inner;
-      };
+      if (staged) {
+        return (props: TProps) => {
+          const { children, ...rest } = props as React.PropsWithChildren<TProps>;
+          const inner = staged(rest as TProps, ...React.Children.toArray(children));
+          // staged render functions were not consistently marking contents as composable, though they were treated
+          // as such in useHook. To maintain compatibility we mark the returned function as composable here. This was
+          // dangerous, but this shim is necessary for backward compatibility. The newer pattern is explicit about this.
+          if (typeof inner === 'function' && !(inner as LegacyDirectComponent<TProps>)._canCompose) {
+            return Object.assign(inner, { _canCompose: true });
+          }
+          return inner;
+        };
+      }
     }
   }
   return undefined;
@@ -43,9 +45,9 @@ export function getPhasedRender<TProps>(component: React.ComponentType<TProps>):
  */
 export function phasedComponent<TProps>(getInnerPhase: PhasedRender<TProps>): FunctionComponent<TProps> {
   return Object.assign(
-    (props: React.PropsWithChildren<TProps>) => {
+    (props: TProps) => {
       // pull out children from props
-      const { children, ...outerProps } = props;
+      const { children, ...outerProps } = props as React.PropsWithChildren<TProps>;
       const Inner = getInnerPhase(outerProps as TProps);
       return renderForJsxRuntime(Inner, { children });
     },
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/component-patterns/render.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/component-patterns/render.ts
index 2235845071..ceef1ad405 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/component-patterns/render.ts
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/component-patterns/render.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import * as ReactJSX from 'react/jsx-runtime';
 import type { RenderType, RenderResult, DirectComponent, LegacyDirectComponent } from './render.types.ts';
+import { extractChildren, splitPropsAndChildren } from '../utilities/typeUtils.ts';
 
 export type CustomRender = () => RenderResult;
 
@@ -20,13 +21,13 @@ function asLegacyDirectComponent<TProps>(type: RenderType): LegacyDirectComponen
 
 export function renderForJsxRuntime<TProps>(
   type: React.ElementType,
-  props: React.PropsWithChildren<TProps>,
+  props: TProps,
   key?: React.Key,
-  jsxFn: typeof ReactJSX.jsx = undefined,
+  jsxFn?: typeof ReactJSX.jsx,
 ): RenderResult {
   const legacyDirect = asLegacyDirectComponent(type);
   if (legacyDirect) {
-    const { children, ...rest } = props;
+    const [rest, children] = splitPropsAndChildren(props);
     const newProps = { ...rest, key };
     return legacyDirect(newProps, ...React.Children.toArray(children)) as RenderResult;
   }
@@ -38,14 +39,14 @@ export function renderForJsxRuntime<TProps>(
 
   // auto-detect whether to use jsx or jsxs based on number of children, 0 or 1 = jsx, more than 1 = jsxs
   if (!jsxFn) {
-    if (React.Children.count(props.children) > 1) {
+    if (React.Children.count(extractChildren(props)) > 1) {
       jsxFn = ReactJSX.jsxs;
     } else {
       jsxFn = ReactJSX.jsx;
     }
   }
   // Extract key from props to avoid React 19 warning about spreading key prop
-  // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
+
   const { key: propsKey, ...propsWithoutKey } = props as any;
   // Use explicitly passed key, or fall back to key from props
   const finalKey = key ?? propsKey;
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/component-patterns/render.types.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/component-patterns/render.types.ts
index df68822103..8079be58e6 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/component-patterns/render.types.ts
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/component-patterns/render.types.ts
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ export type SlotFn<TProps> = {
  * Children will be passed as part of the props for component rendering. The `children` prop will be
  * automatically inferred and typed correctly by the prop type.
  */
-export type PhasedRender<TProps> = (props: TProps) => React.ComponentType<React.PropsWithChildren<TProps>>;
+export type PhasedRender<TProps> = (props: TProps) => React.ComponentType<TProps>;
 
 /**
  * Component type for a component that can be rendered in two phases, with the attached phased render function.
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/immutable-merge/Merge.test.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/immutable-merge/Merge.test.ts
index 4985beecbc..0f579e3491 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/immutable-merge/Merge.test.ts
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/immutable-merge/Merge.test.ts
@@ -99,11 +99,6 @@ const mergeOptions: MergeOptions = {
   },
 };
 
-interface IDeepObj {
-  a: { b: { c: number } };
-  b: { c: { d: { d: string } } };
-}
-
 const deep1 = {
   a: { b: { c: 1 } },
   b: { c: { d: { d: 'foo' } } },
@@ -183,9 +178,9 @@ describe('Immutable merge unit tests', () => {
     const obj1 = { a: 'a', b: 1 };
     const obj2 = { b: 2, c: true };
     const merged = { a: 'a', b: 2, c: true };
-    expect(immutableMerge<any>(obj1, obj2)).toEqual(merged);
-    expect(immutableMergeCore<any>(0, obj1, obj2)).toEqual(merged);
-    expect(immutableMergeCore<any>(true, obj1, obj2)).toEqual(merged);
+    expect(immutableMerge(obj1, obj2)).toEqual(merged);
+    expect(immutableMergeCore(0, obj1, obj2)).toEqual(merged);
+    expect(immutableMergeCore(true, obj1, obj2)).toEqual(merged);
   });
 
   const dm1 = {
@@ -199,14 +194,14 @@ describe('Immutable merge unit tests', () => {
   };
 
   test('deep merge', () => {
-    expect(immutableMerge<any>(dm1, dm2)).toEqual({
+    expect(immutableMerge(dm1, dm2)).toEqual({
       a: { b: { c: { foo: 'foo', bar: 'bar2', baz: 'baz' } }, i: 'world' },
       d: { e: 1, f: { g: 'hello', h: 2 }, j: 4 },
     });
   });
 
   test('merge zero levels', () => {
-    expect(immutableMergeCore<any>(0, dm1, dm2)).toEqual(dm2);
+    expect(immutableMergeCore(0, dm1, dm2)).toEqual(dm2);
   });
 
   test('merge one level deep', () => {
@@ -214,8 +209,8 @@ describe('Immutable merge unit tests', () => {
       a: dm2.a,
       d: { ...dm1.d, ...dm2.d },
     };
-    expect(immutableMergeCore<any>(1, dm1, dm2)).toEqual(result);
-    expect(immutableMergeCore<any>({ object: 0 }, dm1, dm2)).toEqual(result);
+    expect(immutableMergeCore(1, dm1, dm2)).toEqual(result);
+    expect(immutableMergeCore({ object: 0 }, dm1, dm2)).toEqual(result);
   });
 
   test('merge with empty object', () => {
@@ -226,14 +221,14 @@ describe('Immutable merge unit tests', () => {
   });
 
   test('merge sett1 and sett2', () => {
-    const merged = immutableMergeCore(mergeOptions, sett1, sett2) as IFakeSettings;
+    const merged = immutableMergeCore(mergeOptions, sett1, sett2);
     expect(merged).toEqual(sett1plus2);
-    expect(merged!.root.style).toBe(sett1.root.style);
+    expect(merged!.root!.style).toBe(sett1.root!.style);
     expect(merged!.fakeSlot!.style).toBe(sett2.fakeSlot!.style);
   });
 
   test('merge sett1 and sett3', () => {
-    const merged = immutableMergeCore(mergeOptions, sett1, sett3) as IFakeSettings;
+    const merged = immutableMergeCore(mergeOptions, sett1, sett3);
     expect(merged).toEqual(sett1plus3);
     expect(merged!.fakeSlot).toBe(sett1.fakeSlot);
   });
@@ -244,7 +239,7 @@ describe('Immutable merge unit tests', () => {
   });
 
   test('deepMerge', () => {
-    const merged = immutableMergeCore<any>(-1, deep1, deep2) as IDeepObj;
+    const merged = immutableMergeCore(-1, deep1, deep2);
     expect(merged).toEqual(deepMerged);
     expect(merged.b.c.d).toBe(deep1.b.c.d);
     expect(merged.a.b).not.toBe(deep2.a.b);
@@ -259,14 +254,14 @@ describe('Immutable merge unit tests', () => {
     const merged = processImmutable(changeMeOption1, singleToChange);
     expect(merged).toEqual(singleWithChanges);
     expect(merged).not.toBe(singleToChange);
-    expect((merged as any).b).toBe(singleToChange.b);
+    expect(merged.b).toBe(singleToChange.b);
   });
 
   test('single process with change - alternative', () => {
     const merged = processImmutable(changeMeOption2, singleToChange);
     expect(merged).toEqual(singleWithChanges);
     expect(merged).not.toBe(singleToChange);
-    expect((merged as any).b).toBe(singleToChange.b);
+    expect(merged.b).toBe(singleToChange.b);
   });
 
   const withArray1 = {
@@ -296,15 +291,15 @@ describe('Immutable merge unit tests', () => {
   };
 
   test('last writer wins for objects and non-objects', () => {
-    const merged = immutableMerge<any>(withObj, withNonObj);
+    const merged = immutableMerge(withObj, withNonObj);
     expect(merged).toEqual(withNonObj);
-    const merged2 = immutableMerge<any>(withNonObj, withObj);
+    const merged2 = immutableMerge(withNonObj, withObj);
     expect(merged2).toEqual(withObj);
   });
 
   const arrayMerger = (...targets: any[]) => {
     const arrays = targets.filter((t) => Array.isArray(t));
-    let result = [];
+    let result: any[] = [];
     for (const v of arrays) {
       if (v.length > 0) {
         result = result.concat(...v);
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/immutable-merge/Merge.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/immutable-merge/Merge.ts
index b77d9577d0..54f90e4f9e 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/immutable-merge/Merge.ts
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/immutable-merge/Merge.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+import { getEntityType, isObject } from '../utilities/typeUtils.ts';
+import type { ObjectMerger, ObjectMergerWithOptions } from '../utilities/mergeTypes.ts';
+
 /**
  * The basic options for recursion at a given level.  Two types for two behaviors:
  *
@@ -28,19 +31,6 @@ export type BuiltinRecursionHandlers = 'appendArray';
  */
 export type RecursionHandler = BuiltinRecursionHandlers | CustomRecursionHandler;
 
-/**
- * Base object type for merges, avoids using object since that is too broad. In particular things like null and arrays
- * are not valid object types for the purposes of this library.
- */
-// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-empty-object-type
-export type ObjectBase = {};
-
-/**
- *
- */
-export type TypeofResult = 'undefined' | 'object' | 'boolean' | 'number' | 'string' | 'symbol' | 'bigint' | 'function';
-export type ExpandedTypeof = TypeofResult | 'array' | 'null';
-
 /**
  * configuration object for the merge, key names are matched with a few exceptions:
  * - object: matches non-array object types
@@ -51,6 +41,12 @@ export interface MergeOptions {
   [objectTypeOrKeyName: string]: RecursionOption | RecursionHandler | MergeOptions;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Union type for the options parameter of the merge core function, this allows for either a simple recursion option
+ * that applies to all keys and types, or a full configuration object for more control.
+ */
+export type MergeCoreOptions = RecursionOption | MergeOptions;
+
 /**
  * built in handlers for the module
  */
@@ -72,25 +68,6 @@ function normalizeOptions(options: RecursionOption | MergeOptions): [MergeOption
       : [options, true];
 }
 
-/**
- * Provide a more sensible type result that expands upon the built in typeof operator
- * In particular this will differentiate arrays and nulls from standard objects
- * @param val - value to check type
- */
-function getEntityType(val: unknown): ExpandedTypeof {
-  switch (typeof val) {
-    case 'object':
-      if (val === null) {
-        return 'null';
-      } else if (Array.isArray(val)) {
-        return 'array';
-      }
-      return 'object';
-    default:
-      return typeof val as TypeofResult;
-  }
-}
-
 /** resolve custom handlers if they are applicable */
 function resolveIfHandler(option: RecursionHandler | RecursionOption | MergeOptions): CustomRecursionHandler | MergeOptions | undefined {
   return typeof option === 'function' ? option : typeof option === 'string' ? _builtinHandlers[option] : undefined;
@@ -141,22 +118,13 @@ function getHandlerForPropertyOfType(
   return result;
 }
 
-/**
- * Assign properties of source objects to a new target object. This is just a type wrapper around Object.assign
- * @param objs - array of objects to merge
- * @returns the result of object assign on the objects, typed to T
- */
-function assignToNewObject<T extends ObjectBase>(...objs: T[]): T {
-  return Object.assign({}, ...objs);
-}
-
 /**
  * Filter a set of unknown values to only include those that extend ObjectBase
  * @param values - array of values to filter
  * @returns the filtered set of values
  */
-export function filterToObjects<T extends ObjectBase = ObjectBase>(values: unknown[]): T[] {
-  return values.filter((v) => v && getEntityType(v) === 'object' && Object.getOwnPropertyNames(v).length > 0) as T[];
+export function filterToObjects<T = Record<string, unknown>>(values: unknown[]): T[] {
+  return values.filter((v) => v && isObject(v) && Object.getOwnPropertyNames(v).length > 0) as T[];
 }
 
 /**
@@ -172,15 +140,19 @@ export function filterToObjects<T extends ObjectBase = ObjectBase>(values: unkno
  * is true the routine will progress through all branches of the hierarchy.  Useful if using a processor function that needs to be run.
  * @param objs - an array of objects to merge together
  */
-function immutableMergeWorker<T extends ObjectBase>(mergeOptions: RecursionOption | MergeOptions, singleMode: boolean, ...objs: T[]): T {
-  const setToMerge = filterToObjects<T>(objs);
+function immutableMergeWorker(
+  mergeOptions: RecursionOption | MergeOptions,
+  singleMode: boolean,
+  ...objs: unknown[]
+): Record<string, unknown> | undefined {
+  const setToMerge = filterToObjects(objs);
   const [options, mightRecurse] = normalizeOptions(mergeOptions);
   const processSingle = singleMode && setToMerge.length === 1;
 
   // there is work to do if there is more than one object to merge or if we are processing single objects
   if (setToMerge.length > 1 || (processSingle && setToMerge.length === 1)) {
     // now assign everything to get the normal property precedence (and merge all the keys)
-    let result = processSingle ? undefined : assignToNewObject(...setToMerge);
+    let result = processSingle ? undefined : Object.assign({}, ...setToMerge);
     const processSet = result || setToMerge[0];
 
     for (const key in processSet) {
@@ -193,11 +165,9 @@ function immutableMergeWorker<T extends ObjectBase>(mergeOptions: RecursionOptio
           if (handler !== undefined) {
             const values = setToMerge.map((set) => set[key]).filter((v) => v !== undefined);
             const updatedVal =
-              typeof handler === 'function'
-                ? handler(...values)
-                : immutableMergeWorker<ObjectBase>(handler, singleMode, ...filterToObjects(values));
+              typeof handler === 'function' ? handler(...values) : immutableMergeWorker(handler, singleMode, ...filterToObjects(values));
             if (updatedVal !== originalVal) {
-              result = result || assignToNewObject(...setToMerge);
+              result = result || Object.assign({}, ...setToMerge);
               result[key] = updatedVal;
             }
           }
@@ -222,9 +192,7 @@ function immutableMergeWorker<T extends ObjectBase>(mergeOptions: RecursionOptio
  *
  * @param objs - variable input array of typed objects to merge
  */
-export function immutableMerge<T extends ObjectBase>(...objs: (T | undefined)[]): T | undefined {
-  return immutableMergeWorker(true, false, ...objs);
-}
+export const immutableMerge: ObjectMerger = (...objs: unknown[]) => immutableMergeWorker(true, false, ...objs);
 
 /**
  * Version of immutable merge that can be configured to behave in a variety of manners.  See the documentation for details.
@@ -232,12 +200,8 @@ export function immutableMerge<T extends ObjectBase>(...objs: (T | undefined)[])
  * @param options - configuration options for the merge, this dictates what keys will be handled in what way
  * @param objs - set of objects to merge together
  */
-export function immutableMergeCore<T extends ObjectBase>(
-  options: RecursionOption | MergeOptions,
-  ...objs: (T | undefined)[]
-): T | undefined {
-  return immutableMergeWorker(options, false, ...objs);
-}
+export const immutableMergeCore: ObjectMergerWithOptions<MergeCoreOptions> = (options: MergeCoreOptions, ...objs: unknown[]) =>
+  immutableMergeWorker(options, false, ...objs);
 
 /**
  * Process one or more immutable objects ensuring that handlers are called on every entry that applies.  If a single object
@@ -250,6 +214,5 @@ export function immutableMergeCore<T extends ObjectBase>(
  * @param processors - set of processor functions for handling keys
  * @param objs - one or more objects to process.  If multiple objects are passed they will be merged
  */
-export function processImmutable<T extends ObjectBase>(options: MergeOptions, ...objs: (T | undefined)[]): T | undefined {
-  return immutableMergeWorker(options, true, ...objs);
-}
+export const processImmutable: ObjectMergerWithOptions<MergeOptions> = (options: MergeOptions, ...objs: unknown[]) =>
+  immutableMergeWorker(options, true, ...objs);
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/index.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/index.ts
index 58f5af762e..ee17d8e0fd 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/index.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ export type {
   BuiltinRecursionHandlers,
   CustomRecursionHandler,
   MergeOptions,
-  ObjectBase,
   RecursionHandler,
   RecursionOption,
 } from './immutable-merge/Merge.ts';
@@ -15,7 +14,6 @@ export { getMemoCache, getTypedMemoCache } from './memo-cache/getMemoCache.ts';
 export { memoize } from './memo-cache/memoize.ts';
 
 // merge-props exports
-export type { StyleProp } from './merge-props/mergeStyles.types.ts';
 export { mergeStyles } from './merge-props/mergeStyles.ts';
 export { mergeProps } from './merge-props/mergeProps.ts';
 
@@ -58,3 +56,8 @@ export type { FurnJSX } from './jsx-namespace.ts';
 // general utilities
 export { filterProps } from './utilities/filterProps.ts';
 export type { PropsFilter } from './utilities/filterProps.ts';
+
+// core type utilities exports
+export type { StyleProp, ObjectBase, ObjectFallback } from './utilities/baseTypes.ts';
+export type { ObjectMerger, ObjectMergerWithOptions, StyleMerger } from './utilities/mergeTypes.ts';
+export type { ExpandedTypeof, TypeofResult } from './utilities/typeUtils.ts';
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getCacheEntry.test.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getCacheEntry.test.ts
index eaf12873a4..ca74351f4c 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getCacheEntry.test.ts
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getCacheEntry.test.ts
@@ -40,34 +40,34 @@ describe('Memo cache unit tests', () => {
   test('string gets keyed correctly', () => {
     const base: TestEntry = {};
     const key = 'foo';
-    expect(getCacheEntry(base, [key])).toBe(base.str[key]);
+    expect(getCacheEntry(base, [key])).toBe(base.str![key]);
   });
 
   test('number gets keyed correctly', () => {
     const base: TestEntry = {};
     const val = 235;
     const key = val + '';
-    expect(getCacheEntry(base, [val])).toBe(base.str[key]);
+    expect(getCacheEntry(base, [val])).toBe(base.str![key]);
   });
 
   test('bool gets keyed correctly', () => {
     const base: TestEntry = {};
     const val = true;
     const key = val + '';
-    expect(getCacheEntry(base, [val])).toBe(base.str[key]);
+    expect(getCacheEntry(base, [val])).toBe(base.str![key]);
   });
 
   test('false bool gets keyed correctly', () => {
     const base: TestEntry = {};
     const val = false;
     const key = val + '';
-    expect(getCacheEntry(base, [val])).toBe(base.str[key]);
+    expect(getCacheEntry(base, [val])).toBe(base.str![key]);
   });
 
   test('object gets keyed correctly', () => {
     const base: TestEntry = {};
     const key = {};
-    expect(getCacheEntry(base, [key])).toBe(base.obj.get(key));
+    expect(getCacheEntry(base, [key])).toBe(base.obj!.get(key));
   });
 
   test('function gets keyed correctly', () => {
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ describe('Memo cache unit tests', () => {
     const key = () => {
       return 'hello world';
     };
-    expect(getCacheEntry(base, [key])).toBe(base.obj.get(key));
+    expect(getCacheEntry(base, [key])).toBe(base.obj!.get(key));
   });
 
   test('basic string retrieval', () => {
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getCacheEntry.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getCacheEntry.ts
index 5d7b620645..c8f9f16db7 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getCacheEntry.ts
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getCacheEntry.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,13 @@ function jumpToCacheEntry(entry: CacheEntry, val: any): CacheEntry {
   if (typeof val === 'object' || typeof val === 'function') {
     // objects and functions will be treated as key values in a WeakMap
     const byObj = (entry.obj ??= new WeakMap<MemoObjectKey, CacheEntry>());
-    return byObj.get(val) || byObj.set(val, {}).get(val);
+
+    let newEntry = byObj.get(val);
+    if (!newEntry) {
+      newEntry = {};
+      byObj.set(val, newEntry);
+    }
+    return newEntry;
   }
   // otherwise convert everything to a string and store it in the str object (using it as a map)
   const key = val + '';
@@ -49,7 +55,7 @@ function jumpToCacheEntry(entry: CacheEntry, val: any): CacheEntry {
  * @param entry - entry to use as the base of the cache walk
  * @param args - array of arguments to use to progress deeper into the cache
  */
-export function getCacheEntry(entry: CacheEntry, args: unknown[]): CacheEntry {
+export function getCacheEntry(entry: CacheEntry, args?: unknown[]): CacheEntry {
   // in the case where the args array exists and is > 0 length:
   // - walk the cache from entry, like a linked list, jumping to the next entry by key, building it up as you go
   // - otherwise if there are no args just use the noargs branch
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getMemoCache.test.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getMemoCache.test.ts
index a43b1ab8bc..934e432b29 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getMemoCache.test.ts
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getMemoCache.test.ts
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ describe('getMemoCache unit tests', () => {
   test('memo calls function only once for empty inputs', () => {
     const memoValue = getMemoCache();
     const fn = getObjFactory();
-    const [o1] = memoValue(fn, undefined);
-    const [o2] = memoValue(fn, undefined);
+    const [o1] = memoValue(fn, []);
+    const [o2] = memoValue(fn, []);
     expect(o2).toBe(o1);
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getMemoCache.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getMemoCache.ts
index ae656cc8dd..b02cfd5267 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getMemoCache.ts
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/memo-cache/getMemoCache.ts
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ export type ValueFactory<T> = () => T;
  * - Typed: the cache will enforce the type of both the factory and returned value
  * - Untyped: the cache will infer the type on each call from the factory return value
  */
-export type GetTypedMemoValue<T> = (factory: T | ValueFactory<T>, keys: unknown[]) => [T, GetTypedMemoValue<T>];
-export type GetMemoValue = <T>(factory: T | ValueFactory<T>, keys: unknown[]) => [T, GetMemoValue];
+export type GetTypedMemoValue<T> = (factory: T | ValueFactory<T>, keys?: unknown[]) => [T, GetTypedMemoValue<T>];
+export type GetMemoValue = <T>(factory: T | ValueFactory<T>, keys?: unknown[]) => [T, GetMemoValue];
 
 /** base node used to remember references when a globalKey is set */
 const _baseEntry: CacheEntry = {};
@@ -21,13 +21,13 @@ const _baseEntry: CacheEntry = {};
  * @param factory - generally a function who's results will be cached, and returned via the set of keys
  * @param keys - an ordered array of values of any type, used as keys to look up the entry
  */
-function getMemoValueWorker<T>(entry: CacheEntry, factory: T | ValueFactory<T>, keys: unknown[]): [T, GetMemoValue] {
+function getMemoValueWorker<T>(entry: CacheEntry, factory: T | ValueFactory<T>, keys?: unknown[]): [T, GetMemoValue] {
   const foundEntry = getCacheEntry(entry, keys);
   // check the key being set, not the value to disambiguate an undefined factory result/value from never having run the factory
   if (!Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(foundEntry, 'value')) {
     foundEntry.value = typeof factory === 'function' ? (factory as ValueFactory<T>)() : factory;
   }
-  return [foundEntry.value as T, <U>(fact: U | ValueFactory<U>, args: unknown[]) => getMemoValueWorker<U>(foundEntry, fact, args)];
+  return [foundEntry.value as T, <U>(fact: U | ValueFactory<U>, args?: unknown[]) => getMemoValueWorker<U>(foundEntry, fact, args)];
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/index.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/index.ts
index e8a4571f2a..ddc67901d8 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/index.ts
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/index.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,2 @@
-export type { StyleProp } from './mergeStyles.types.ts';
 export { mergeStyles } from './mergeStyles.ts';
 export { mergeProps } from './mergeProps.ts';
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/mergeProps.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/mergeProps.ts
index 2332b5037d..0bd62a3f20 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/mergeProps.ts
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/mergeProps.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { MergeOptions } from '../immutable-merge/Merge.ts';
 import { immutableMergeCore, filterToObjects } from '../immutable-merge/Merge.ts';
+import type { ObjectMerger } from '../utilities/mergeTypes.ts';
 
 import { mergeStyles } from './mergeStyles.ts';
 
@@ -15,6 +16,4 @@ const mergePropsOptions: MergeOptions = {
  * Merge props together, flattening and merging styles as appropriate
  * @param props - props to merge together
  */
-export function mergeProps<TProps>(...props: (TProps | undefined)[]): TProps {
-  return immutableMergeCore(mergePropsOptions, ...filterToObjects<TProps>(props));
-}
+export const mergeProps: ObjectMerger = (...props: unknown[]) => immutableMergeCore(mergePropsOptions, ...filterToObjects(props));
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/mergeStyles.test.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/mergeStyles.test.ts
index 3642e18910..5220111774 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/mergeStyles.test.ts
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/mergeStyles.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { flattenStyle, mergeAndFlattenStyles, mergeStyles } from './mergeStyles.ts';
-import type { StyleProp } from './mergeStyles.types.ts';
+import type { StyleProp } from '../utilities/baseTypes.ts';
 
 type OpaqueColorValue = symbol & { __TYPE__: 'Color' };
 type ColorValue = string | OpaqueColorValue;
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/mergeStyles.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/mergeStyles.ts
index 75f1bc2d5d..46b4c611a6 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/mergeStyles.ts
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/mergeStyles.ts
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 import { immutableMerge } from '../immutable-merge/Merge.ts';
 import { getMemoCache } from '../memo-cache/getMemoCache.ts';
+import type { StyleMerger } from '../utilities/mergeTypes.ts';
 
-import type { StyleProp } from './mergeStyles.types.ts';
+import type { StyleProp } from '../utilities/baseTypes.ts';
 
 /**
  * Take a react-native style, which may be a recursive array, and return as a flattened
- * style.  This is analagous to the flatten routine that is part of the style sheet API
+ * style.  This is analogous to the flatten routine that is part of the style sheet API
  *
  * @param style - StyleProp<TStyle> to flatten, this can be a TStyle or an array
+ * @internal
  */
-export function flattenStyle<T extends object>(style: StyleProp<T>): T {
-  return Array.isArray(style) ? immutableMerge<T>(...style.map((v) => flattenStyle(v))) : ((style || {}) as T);
+export function flattenStyle(style: StyleProp<unknown>): object {
+  return Array.isArray(style) ? (immutableMerge(...style.map((v) => flattenStyle(v))) as object) : style || {};
 }
 
 /**
@@ -19,31 +21,14 @@ export function flattenStyle<T extends object>(style: StyleProp<T>): T {
  * @param styles - array of styles to merge together.  The styles will be flattened as part of the process
  */
 
-// Overload for 2 arguments with potentially different types
-export function mergeAndFlattenStyles<T1 extends object, T2 extends object>(
-  style1: StyleProp<T1>,
-  style2: StyleProp<T2>,
-): (T1 & T2) | undefined;
-
-// Overload for 3 arguments with potentially different types
-export function mergeAndFlattenStyles<T1 extends object, T2 extends object, T3 extends object>(
-  style1: StyleProp<T1>,
-  style2: StyleProp<T2>,
-  style3: StyleProp<T3>,
-): (T1 & T2 & T3) | undefined;
-
-// General fallback for any number of arguments of the same type
-export function mergeAndFlattenStyles<TStyle extends object>(...styles: StyleProp<any>[]): TStyle | undefined;
-
-// Implementation
-export function mergeAndFlattenStyles(...styles: StyleProp<any>[]): object | undefined {
+export const mergeAndFlattenStyles: StyleMerger = (...styles: StyleProp<unknown>[]) => {
   // baseline merge and flatten the objects
   return immutableMerge(
-    ...styles.map((styleProp: StyleProp<object>) => {
+    ...styles.map((styleProp: StyleProp<unknown>) => {
       return flattenStyle(styleProp);
     }),
   );
-}
+};
 
 const _styleCache = getMemoCache();
 
@@ -51,38 +36,12 @@ const _styleCache = getMemoCache();
  * Function overloads to allow merging styles of different types.
  * This is useful when merging token-based styles with React Native StyleProp types.
  */
-
-// Overload for 1 argument, forces flattening of sub arrays
-export function mergeStyles<T1 extends object>(style1: StyleProp<T1>): T1 | undefined;
-
-// Overload for 2 arguments with potentially different types
-export function mergeStyles<T1 extends object, T2 extends object>(style1: StyleProp<T1>, style2: StyleProp<T2>): (T1 & T2) | undefined;
-
-// Overload for 3 arguments with potentially different types
-export function mergeStyles<T1 extends object, T2 extends object, T3 extends object>(
-  style1: StyleProp<T1>,
-  style2: StyleProp<T2>,
-  style3: StyleProp<T3>,
-): (T1 & T2 & T3) | undefined;
-
-// Overload for 4 arguments with potentially different types
-export function mergeStyles<T1 extends object, T2 extends object, T3 extends object, T4 extends object>(
-  style1: StyleProp<T1>,
-  style2: StyleProp<T2>,
-  style3: StyleProp<T3>,
-  style4: StyleProp<T4>,
-): (T1 & T2 & T3 & T4) | undefined;
-
-// General fallback for any number of arguments of the same type
-export function mergeStyles<TStyle extends object>(...styles: StyleProp<TStyle>[]): TStyle | undefined;
-
-// Implementation
-export function mergeStyles(...styles: StyleProp<any>[]): object | undefined {
+export const mergeStyles: StyleMerger = (...styles: StyleProp<unknown>[]) => {
   // filter the style set to just objects (which might be arrays or plain style objects)
-  const inputs = styles.filter((s) => typeof s === 'object') as object[];
+  const inputs = styles.filter((s) => s !== null && typeof s === 'object');
 
   // now memo the results if there is more than one element or if the one element is an array
   return inputs.length > 1 || (inputs.length === 1 && Array.isArray(inputs[0]))
     ? _styleCache(() => mergeAndFlattenStyles(undefined, ...inputs), inputs)[0]
     : inputs[0] || {};
-}
+};
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/mergeStyles.types.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/mergeStyles.types.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 5a2e3b3856..0000000000
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/merge-props/mergeStyles.types.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * This is a copy of the react-native style prop type, copied here to avoid RN dependencies for web clients
- */
-type Falsy = undefined | null | false | '' | 0;
-type RecursiveArray<T> = readonly (T | RecursiveArray<T>)[] | (T | RecursiveArray<T>)[];
-/** Keep a brand of 'T' so that calls to `StyleSheet.flatten` can take `RegisteredStyle<T>` and return `T`. */
-type RegisteredStyle<T> = number & { __registeredStyleBrand: T };
-
-export type StyleProp<T> = T | RegisteredStyle<T> | RecursiveArray<T | RegisteredStyle<T> | Falsy> | Falsy;
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/baseTypes.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/baseTypes.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b93dd70140
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/baseTypes.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/**
+ * This is a copy of the react-native style prop type, copied here to avoid RN dependencies this early in the dependency tree.
+ */
+type Falsy = undefined | null | false | '';
+// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-empty-object-type
+interface RecursiveArray<T> extends Array<T | readonly T[] | RecursiveArray<T>> {}
+/** Keep a brand of 'T' so that calls to `StyleSheet.flatten` can take `RegisteredStyle<T>` and return `T`. */
+type RegisteredStyle<T> = number & { __registeredStyleBrand: T };
+export type StyleProp<T> = T | RegisteredStyle<T> | RecursiveArray<T | RegisteredStyle<T> | Falsy> | Falsy;
+
+/**
+ * This is the baseline for acceptance object types, meaning for T extends ObjectBase. The options here
+ * are:
+ * - {} an empty object, which works but is a bit too loose for general use
+ * - Record<string, unknown> which is fine with types but doesn't work with
+ *   interfaces as they have no implicit index signature
+ * - object which is the built in object type, slightly stricter than {} but still allows for interfaces
+ *
+ * There's no perfect option here but object is the best overall choice.
+ */
+export type ObjectBase = object;
+
+/**
+ * For fallback object types it is better to use the stricter Record<string, unknown> type, as it
+ * is more likely to catch issues with unexpected properties and is still compatible with the
+ * ObjectBase type.
+ */
+export type ObjectFallback = Record<string, unknown>;
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/baseTypes.validate.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/baseTypes.validate.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3c5d6ae9d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/baseTypes.validate.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+/* eslint-disable @typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars */
+/**
+ * Type validation that the base types behave as expected. This code is never run and is not included
+ * in other files, but will cause build breaks if the types no longer behave as expected.
+ */
+
+import type { StyleProp, ObjectBase, ObjectFallback } from './baseTypes.ts';
+import type { StyleProp as RNStyleProp } from 'react-native';
+
+/**
+ * Validate that StyleProp is compatible with React Native's StyleProp type, as this is a critical part of our type system for styles and we want to ensure it remains compatible with RN's types.
+ */
+export type ValidateStyleProp<T> = StyleProp<T> extends RNStyleProp<T> ? true : never;
+
+type StyleBase = {
+  color?: string;
+  fontSize?: number;
+};
+
+type TestProps = {
+  p1?: string;
+  p2?: number;
+  p3?: boolean;
+  style?: StyleProp<StyleBase>;
+};
+
+const typeProps: TestProps = {
+  p1: 'string',
+  p2: 123,
+  p3: true,
+  style: {
+    color: 'red',
+    fontSize: 16,
+  },
+};
+
+interface IStyleBase {
+  color?: string;
+  fontSize?: number;
+}
+
+interface ITestProps {
+  p1?: string;
+  p2?: number;
+  p3?: boolean;
+  style?: StyleProp<IStyleBase>;
+}
+
+const interfaceProps: ITestProps = {
+  p1: 'string',
+  p2: 123,
+  p3: true,
+  style: {
+    color: 'red',
+    fontSize: 16,
+  },
+};
+
+export function validateBaseTypes() {
+  // This function is never called, but if the types of the base types change in a way that breaks compatibility with expected types, this will cause a build error and alert us to the issue.
+
+  // Test that StyleProp is compatible with React Native's StyleProp type
+  const stylePropTest: ValidateStyleProp<IStyleBase> = true;
+  const stylePropTest2: ValidateStyleProp<StyleBase> = true;
+
+  // just using the values to stop typescript complaints
+  if (!stylePropTest || !stylePropTest2) {
+    throw new Error("StyleProp is not compatible with React Native's StyleProp type");
+  }
+
+  // Test that ObjectBase is compatible with object and Record<string, unknown>
+
+  const objectBaseTest1: ObjectBase = {};
+  const objectBaseTest2: ObjectBase = { key: 'value' };
+  const objectBaseTest3: ObjectBase = new Date();
+  const objectBaseTest4: ObjectBase = typeProps;
+  const objectBaseTest5: ObjectBase = interfaceProps;
+  const objectBaseTest6: ObjectFallback = {};
+  const objectBaseTest7: ObjectFallback = { key: 'value' };
+  // @ts-expect-error - this should error because Date is not compatible with Record<string, unknown> due to its properties not being string keys and unknown values
+  const objectBaseTest8: ObjectFallback = new Date();
+  const objectBaseTest9: ObjectFallback = typeProps;
+  // @ts-expect-error - this should error because interfaceProps is not compatible with Record<string, unknown> due to the style property being a StyleProp type which is not compatible with Record<string, unknown>
+  const objectBaseTest10: ObjectFallback = interfaceProps;
+
+  // cross assignment
+  const baseFromFallback: ObjectBase = objectBaseTest7;
+  // @ts-expect-error - this should error because ObjectFallback is not compatible with ObjectBase due to ObjectBase allowing for more types of objects than ObjectFallback
+  const fallbackFromBase: ObjectFallback = objectBaseTest2;
+
+  return {
+    ...objectBaseTest1,
+    ...objectBaseTest2,
+    ...objectBaseTest3,
+    ...objectBaseTest4,
+    ...objectBaseTest5,
+    ...objectBaseTest6,
+    ...objectBaseTest7,
+    ...objectBaseTest8,
+    ...objectBaseTest9,
+    ...objectBaseTest10,
+    ...baseFromFallback,
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/filterProps.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/filterProps.ts
index c1c86435ab..d78c5c003f 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/filterProps.ts
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/filterProps.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 import { mergeProps } from '../merge-props/mergeProps.ts';
+import { isObject } from './typeUtils.ts';
 
 export type PropsFilter = (propName: string) => boolean;
 
 export function filterProps<TProps>(props: TProps, filter?: PropsFilter): TProps {
-  if (filter && typeof props === 'object' && !Array.isArray(props)) {
-    const propsToRemove = filter ? Object.keys(props).filter((key) => !filter(key)) : undefined;
+  if (filter && isObject(props)) {
+    const propsToRemove = filter ? Object.keys(props).filter((key) => !filter(key)) : [];
     if (propsToRemove?.length > 0) {
       const propsToRemoveObj = Object.fromEntries(propsToRemove.map((prop) => [prop, undefined])) as TProps;
-      return mergeProps<TProps>(props, propsToRemoveObj);
+      return mergeProps(props, propsToRemoveObj);
     }
   }
   return props;
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/mergeTypes.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/mergeTypes.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ae9d67e9b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/mergeTypes.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+import type { StyleProp, ObjectFallback } from './baseTypes.ts';
+
+/**
+ * Overloaded function types for an object merger, similar to Object.assign but with better type inference and support for
+ * undefined values.
+ */
+export type ObjectMerger = {
+  // T1 defined overloads
+  <T1>(o1: T1, ...objs: undefined[]): T1;
+  <T1, T2>(o1: T1, o2: T2, ...objs: undefined[]): T1 & T2;
+  <T1, T2, T3>(o1: T1, o2: T2, o3: T3, ...objs: undefined[]): T1 & T2 & T3;
+  // T1 undefined overloads
+  <T2>(o1: undefined, o2: T2, ...objs: undefined[]): T2;
+  <T2, T3>(o1: undefined, o2: T2, o3: T3, ...objs: undefined[]): T2 & T3;
+  // T2 undefined overload
+  <T1, T3>(o1: T1, o2: undefined, o3: T3, ...objs: undefined[]): T1 & T3;
+  // rest overloads
+  <T = ObjectFallback>(...objs: unknown[]): T | undefined;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Overloaded function types for an object merger that takes options, similar to Object.assign but with better type inference and support for
+ * undefined values, and with an options parameter to control merge behavior.
+ */
+export type ObjectMergerWithOptions<TOptions> = {
+  // T1 defined overloads
+  <T1>(opt: TOptions, o1: T1, ...objs: undefined[]): T1;
+  <T1, T2>(opt: TOptions, o1: T1, o2: T2, ...objs: undefined[]): T1 & T2;
+  <T1, T2, T3>(opt: TOptions, o1: T1, o2: T2, o3: T3, ...objs: undefined[]): T1 & T2 & T3;
+  // T1 undefined overloads
+  <T2>(opt: TOptions, o1: undefined, o2: T2, ...objs: undefined[]): T2;
+  <T2, T3>(opt: TOptions, o1: undefined, o2: T2, o3: T3, ...objs: undefined[]): T2 & T3;
+  // T2 undefined overload
+  <T1, T3>(opt: TOptions, o1: T1, o2: undefined, o3: T3, ...objs: undefined[]): T1 & T3;
+  // rest overloads
+  <T = ObjectFallback>(opt: TOptions, ...objs: unknown[]): T | undefined;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Overloaded function types for a style merger, which is similar to an object merger but specifically for merging styles that may be in the form of StyleProp types.
+ * This includes support for merging styles of different types, which is useful when merging token-based styles with React Native StyleProp types.
+ */
+export type StyleMerger = {
+  // T1 defined overloads
+  <T1>(o1: StyleProp<T1>, ...objs: undefined[]): T1;
+  <T1, T2>(o1: StyleProp<T1>, o2: StyleProp<T2>, ...objs: undefined[]): T1 & T2;
+  <T1, T2, T3>(o1: StyleProp<T1>, o2: StyleProp<T2>, o3: StyleProp<T3>, ...objs: undefined[]): T1 & T2 & T3;
+  // T1 undefined overloads
+  <T2>(o1: StyleProp<undefined>, o2: StyleProp<T2>, ...objs: undefined[]): T2;
+  <T2, T3>(o1: StyleProp<undefined>, o2: StyleProp<T2>, o3: StyleProp<T3>, ...objs: undefined[]): T2 & T3;
+  // T2 undefined overload
+  <T1, T3>(o1: StyleProp<T1>, o2: StyleProp<undefined>, o3: StyleProp<T3>, ...objs: undefined[]): T1 & T3;
+  // rest overloads
+  <T = ObjectFallback>(...objs: unknown[]): T | undefined;
+};
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/typeUtils.ts b/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/typeUtils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..02850270f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/framework-base/src/utilities/typeUtils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/**
+ *
+ */
+export type TypeofResult = 'undefined' | 'object' | 'boolean' | 'number' | 'string' | 'symbol' | 'bigint' | 'function';
+export type ExpandedTypeof = TypeofResult | 'array' | 'null';
+
+/**
+ * Provide a more sensible type result that expands upon the built in typeof operator
+ * In particular this will differentiate arrays and nulls from standard objects
+ * @param val - value to check type
+ */
+export function getEntityType(val: unknown): ExpandedTypeof {
+  switch (typeof val) {
+    case 'object':
+      if (val === null) {
+        return 'null';
+      } else if (Array.isArray(val)) {
+        return 'array';
+      }
+      return 'object';
+    default:
+      return typeof val as TypeofResult;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Assertion function for types related to objects (objects with string keys and some value types).
+ * This is used to narrow down types in situations where we want to ensure we are working with a plain
+ * object and not something else (like an array or null).
+ * @param value some value of unknown type
+ * @returns an assertion that the value is an object with string keys and unknown values (not an array or null)
+ */
+export function isObject<T extends Record<string, unknown>>(value: unknown): value is T {
+  return typeof value === 'object' && value !== null && !Array.isArray(value);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Helper to split props into children and non-children props.
+ * @param props unknown props type object to split
+ * @returns a tuple of the non-children props and the children
+ */
+export function splitPropsAndChildren<TProps>(props: TProps): [Omit<TProps, 'children'>, React.ReactNode] {
+  const { children, ...rest } = props as React.PropsWithChildren<TProps>;
+  return [rest as Omit<TProps, 'children'>, children];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Helper to get the children from an unknown props type object.
+ */
+export function extractChildren<TProps>(props: TProps): React.ReactNode {
+  const { children } = props as React.PropsWithChildren<TProps>;
+  return children;
+}
diff --git a/packages/framework-base/tsconfig.json b/packages/framework-base/tsconfig.json
index af17d65ef1..dd65e7b5f4 100644
--- a/packages/framework-base/tsconfig.json
+++ b/packages/framework-base/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "@fluentui-react-native/scripts/tsconfig",
+  "extends": "@fluentui-react-native/scripts/tsconfig-strict",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "allowJs": true,
diff --git a/packages/framework/use-slot/src/useSlot.test.tsx b/packages/framework/use-slot/src/useSlot.test.tsx
index 7a6a839260..49615739ef 100644
--- a/packages/framework/use-slot/src/useSlot.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/framework/use-slot/src/useSlot.test.tsx
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ describe('useSlot tests', () => {
     });
     const tree2 = component2!.toJSON();
     expect(tree2).toMatchSnapshot();
+    // @ts-expect-error - we know the structure of the tree here and want to compare the text nodes directly, this is not a general pattern
     expect(tree1!['HeaderCaptionText1']).toEqual(tree2!['HeaderCaptionText2']);
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/framework/use-slot/src/useSlot.ts b/packages/framework/use-slot/src/useSlot.ts
index f35c32a101..bbd71ec1bc 100644
--- a/packages/framework/use-slot/src/useSlot.ts
+++ b/packages/framework/use-slot/src/useSlot.ts
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ export function useSlot<TProps>(
         const { propsToMerge, innerComponent } = slotData;
         if (propsToMerge) {
           // merge in props from phase one if they haven't been captured in the phased render
-          innerProps = mergeProps<TProps>(propsToMerge, innerProps);
+          innerProps = mergeProps(propsToMerge, innerProps);
         }
         if (filter) {
           // filter the final props if a filter is specified
diff --git a/packages/framework/use-slot/tsconfig.json b/packages/framework/use-slot/tsconfig.json
index 256f00585b..e195da31c2 100644
--- a/packages/framework/use-slot/tsconfig.json
+++ b/packages/framework/use-slot/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "@fluentui-react-native/scripts/tsconfig",
+  "extends": "@fluentui-react-native/scripts/tsconfig-strict",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "rootDir": "src",
diff --git a/packages/utils/adapters/src/filterProps.ts b/packages/utils/adapters/src/filterProps.ts
index 30db1220af..ae79d10097 100644
--- a/packages/utils/adapters/src/filterProps.ts
+++ b/packages/utils/adapters/src/filterProps.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 import { getViewMask, getTextMask, getImageMask } from './filters';
-import type { ViewProps, TextProps, ImageProps } from 'react-native';
-import type { IFilterMask } from './filter.types';
 
 /**
  * Filters props based on the provided mask. Each filter function is memoized to only compute the mask once,
@@ -12,7 +10,7 @@ import type { IFilterMask } from './filter.types';
  * @param propName - The name of the prop to check against the view mask
  */
 export const filterViewProps = (() => {
-  let viewMask: IFilterMask<ViewProps> | undefined;
+  let viewMask: Record<string, boolean> | undefined;
   return (propName: string): boolean => {
     viewMask ??= getViewMask();
     return Boolean(viewMask[propName]);
@@ -24,7 +22,7 @@ export const filterViewProps = (() => {
  * @param propName - The name of the prop to check against the text mask
  */
 export const filterTextProps = (() => {
-  let textMask: IFilterMask<TextProps> | undefined;
+  let textMask: Record<string, boolean> | undefined;
   return (propName: string): boolean => {
     textMask ??= getTextMask();
     return Boolean(textMask[propName]);
@@ -36,7 +34,7 @@ export const filterTextProps = (() => {
  * @param propName - The name of the prop to check against the image mask
  */
 export const filterImageProps = (() => {
-  let imageMask: IFilterMask<ImageProps> | undefined;
+  let imageMask: Record<string, boolean> | undefined;
   return (propName: string): boolean => {
     imageMask ??= getImageMask();
     return Boolean(imageMask[propName]);
diff --git a/packages/utils/adapters/tsconfig.json b/packages/utils/adapters/tsconfig.json
index ce2d789490..46f18b0725 100644
--- a/packages/utils/adapters/tsconfig.json
+++ b/packages/utils/adapters/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "@fluentui-react-native/scripts/tsconfig",
+  "extends": "@fluentui-react-native/scripts/tsconfig-strict",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "rootDir": "src",
diff --git a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/__tests__/events.types.test.ts b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/__tests__/events.types.test.ts
index 6685f5b264..8edae17b2a 100644
--- a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/__tests__/events.types.test.ts
+++ b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/__tests__/events.types.test.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import type { AccessibilityActionEvent, GestureResponderEvent } from 'react-nati
 import { isAccessibilityActionEvent, isGestureResponderEvent, isKeyPressEvent } from '../events.types';
 import type { KeyPressEvent } from '../useKeyProps.types';
 
-const createMockEvent = (nativeEvent) => {
+const createMockEvent = (nativeEvent: Record<string, unknown>) => {
   return {
     nativeEvent: nativeEvent,
     currentTarget: null,
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ const createMockEvent = (nativeEvent) => {
   };
 };
 
-const mockGestureEvent: GestureResponderEvent = createMockEvent({
+const mockGestureEvent = createMockEvent({
   changedTouches: [],
   identifier: '',
   locationX: 0,
@@ -43,15 +43,15 @@ const mockGestureEvent: GestureResponderEvent = createMockEvent({
   target: '',
   timestamp: 0,
   touches: [],
-});
+}) as unknown as GestureResponderEvent;
 
-const mockKeyPressEvent: KeyPressEvent = createMockEvent({
+const mockKeyPressEvent = createMockEvent({
   key: 'enter',
-});
+}) as unknown as KeyPressEvent;
 
-const mockAccessibilityEvent: AccessibilityActionEvent = createMockEvent({
+const mockAccessibilityEvent = createMockEvent({
   actionName: 'longpress',
-});
+}) as unknown as AccessibilityActionEvent;
 
 describe('InteractionEvent type guard tests', () => {
   it('has correct output from isGestureResponderEvent when input is type GestureResponderEvent', () => {
diff --git a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsPressable.ts b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsPressable.ts
index db84d13a61..b79aa31db7 100644
--- a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsPressable.ts
+++ b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsPressable.ts
@@ -8,11 +8,12 @@ import type {
   IHoverState,
   IFocusState,
   IWithPressableEvents,
+  IWithPartialPressableEvents,
 } from './useAsPressable.types';
+import type { BlurEvent, FocusEvent, MouseEvent, GestureResponderEvent } from 'react-native';
 import type { PressableFocusProps, PressableHoverProps, PressablePressProps } from './usePressableState.types';
 
-// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-empty-object-type
-type ObjectBase = {};
+type ObjectBase = object;
 
 /**
  * hover specific state and callback helper
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ function useHoverHelper(props: PressableHoverProps): [PressableHoverProps, IHove
   const { onHoverIn: onHoverInProp, onHoverOut: onHoverOutProp } = props;
 
   const onHoverIn = React.useCallback(
-    (e) => {
+    (e: MouseEvent) => {
       setHoverState({ hovered: true });
       if (onHoverInProp) {
         onHoverInProp(e);
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ function useHoverHelper(props: PressableHoverProps): [PressableHoverProps, IHove
   );
 
   const onHoverOut = React.useCallback(
-    (e) => {
+    (e: MouseEvent) => {
       setHoverState({ hovered: false });
       if (onHoverOutProp) {
         onHoverOutProp(e);
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ function useFocusHelper(props: PressableFocusProps): [PressableFocusProps, IFocu
   const [focusState, setFocusState] = React.useState({ focused: false });
   const { onBlur: onBlurProp, onFocus: onFocusProp } = props;
   const onFocus = React.useCallback(
-    (e) => {
+    (e: FocusEvent) => {
       setFocusState({ focused: true });
       if (onFocusProp) {
         onFocusProp(e);
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ function useFocusHelper(props: PressableFocusProps): [PressableFocusProps, IFocu
   );
 
   const onBlur = React.useCallback(
-    (e) => {
+    (e: BlurEvent) => {
       setFocusState({ focused: false });
       if (onBlurProp) {
         onBlurProp(e);
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ function usePressHelper(props: PressablePressProps): [PressablePressProps, IPres
   const { onPressIn: onPressInProp, onPressOut: onPressOutProp } = props;
 
   const onPressIn = React.useCallback(
-    (e) => {
+    (e: GestureResponderEvent) => {
       setPressState({ pressed: true });
       if (onPressInProp) {
         onPressInProp(e);
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ function usePressHelper(props: PressablePressProps): [PressablePressProps, IPres
   );
 
   const onPressOut = React.useCallback(
-    (e) => {
+    (e: GestureResponderEvent) => {
       setPressState({ pressed: false });
       if (onPressOutProp) {
         onPressOutProp(e);
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ function usePressHelper(props: PressablePressProps): [PressablePressProps, IPres
  * as each of these calls will create a new instance of the Pressability class.
  * @param props - input props for the component
  */
-export function useFocusState<T extends ObjectBase>(props: IWithPressableOptions<T>): [IWithPressableEvents<T>, IFocusState] {
+export function useFocusState<T extends ObjectBase>(props: IWithPressableOptions<T>): [IWithPartialPressableEvents<T>, IFocusState] {
   const [focusProps, focusState] = useFocusHelper(props);
   return [{ ...props, ...usePressability({ ...props, ...focusProps }) }, focusState];
 }
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ export function useFocusState<T extends ObjectBase>(props: IWithPressableOptions
  * as each of these calls will create a new instance of the Pressability class.
  * @param props - input props for the component
  */
-export function usePressState<T extends ObjectBase>(props: IWithPressableOptions<T>): [IWithPressableEvents<T>, IPressState] {
+export function usePressState<T extends ObjectBase>(props: IWithPressableOptions<T>): [IWithPartialPressableEvents<T>, IPressState] {
   const [pressProps, pressState] = usePressHelper(props);
   return [{ ...props, ...usePressability({ ...props, ...pressProps }) }, pressState];
 }
@@ -126,7 +127,7 @@ export function usePressState<T extends ObjectBase>(props: IWithPressableOptions
  * as each of these calls will create a new instance of the Pressability class.
  * @param props - input props for the component
  */
-export function useHoverState<T extends ObjectBase>(props: IWithPressableOptions<T>): [IWithPressableEvents<T>, IHoverState] {
+export function useHoverState<T extends ObjectBase>(props: IWithPressableOptions<T>): [IWithPartialPressableEvents<T>, IHoverState] {
   const [hoverProps, hoverState] = useHoverHelper(props);
   return [{ ...props, ...usePressability({ ...props, ...hoverProps }) }, hoverState];
 }
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ export function useAsPressable<T extends ObjectBase>(props: IWithPressableOption
   const pressabilityProps = usePressability({ ...props, ...hoverProps, ...focusProps, ...pressProps });
 
   return {
-    props: { ...props, ...pressabilityProps },
+    props: { ...props, ...pressabilityProps } as IWithPressableEvents<T>,
     state: { ...hoverState, ...focusState, ...pressState },
   };
 }
diff --git a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsPressable.types.ts b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsPressable.types.ts
index 981b6ee926..88b0cc7221 100644
--- a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsPressable.types.ts
+++ b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsPressable.types.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import type { PressabilityConfig, EventHandlers } from './usePressability';
 
-// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-empty-object-type
-type ObjectBase = {};
+type ObjectBase = object;
 
 export type IPressState = {
   pressed?: boolean;
@@ -25,6 +24,8 @@ export type IWithPressableOptions<T extends ObjectBase> = T & IPressableOptions;
 
 export type IWithPressableEvents<T extends ObjectBase> = T & EventHandlers;
 
+export type IWithPartialPressableEvents<T extends ObjectBase> = T & Partial<EventHandlers>;
+
 export type IPressableHooks<T extends ObjectBase> = {
   props: IWithPressableEvents<T>;
   state: IPressableState;
diff --git a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsToggle.ts b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsToggle.ts
index 7a93a3fb03..836974f56a 100644
--- a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsToggle.ts
+++ b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsToggle.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@ export type OnChangeCallback = () => void;
  *         onChange() - Callback to toggle the component
  *         state.isChecked - Whether or not component is currently checked or selected
  */
-export function useAsToggle(defaultChecked?: boolean, checked?: boolean, userCallback?: OnToggleCallback): [boolean, OnChangeCallback] {
+export function useAsToggle(
+  defaultChecked?: boolean,
+  checked?: boolean,
+  userCallback?: OnToggleCallback,
+): [boolean | undefined, OnChangeCallback] {
   const [isChecked, setChecked] = React.useState(defaultChecked ?? checked);
 
   const onChange = React.useCallback(() => {
diff --git a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsToggleWithEvent.ts b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsToggleWithEvent.ts
index 3d6a081b4e..eaca470c59 100644
--- a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsToggleWithEvent.ts
+++ b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/useAsToggleWithEvent.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ export function useAsToggleWithEvent(
   defaultChecked?: boolean,
   checked?: boolean,
   userCallback?: OnToggleWithEventCallback,
-): [boolean, OnChangeWithEventCallback] {
+): [boolean | undefined, OnChangeWithEventCallback] {
   const [isChecked, setChecked] = useControllableValue(checked, defaultChecked);
 
   const onChange = React.useCallback(
diff --git a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/usePressability.ts b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/usePressability.ts
index 4ff8f0a521..2099ca01f1 100644
--- a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/usePressability.ts
+++ b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/usePressability.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { PressableProps, GestureResponderEvent, BlurEvent, MouseEvent } from 'react-native';
 
+// @ts-expect-error - types are still in flow, we are explicitly creating a typed wrapper around this
 import usePressabilityBase from 'react-native/Libraries/Pressability/usePressability';
 
 export type Rect = {
diff --git a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/usePressableState.ts b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/usePressableState.ts
index d35427b07f..fe74ecf3ab 100644
--- a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/usePressableState.ts
+++ b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/src/usePressableState.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import type {
   PressablePropsExtended,
 } from './usePressableState.types';
 
+import type { MouseEvent, FocusEvent, BlurEvent, GestureResponderEvent } from 'react-native';
+
 /**
  * hover specific state and callback helper
  */
@@ -19,7 +21,7 @@ export function useHoverHelper(props: PressableHoverProps): [PressableHoverProps
   const { onHoverIn, onHoverOut } = props;
 
   const _onHoverIn = React.useCallback(
-    (e) => {
+    (e: MouseEvent) => {
       setHoverState({ hovered: true });
       onHoverIn?.(e);
     },
@@ -27,7 +29,7 @@ export function useHoverHelper(props: PressableHoverProps): [PressableHoverProps
   );
 
   const _onHoverOut = React.useCallback(
-    (e) => {
+    (e: MouseEvent) => {
       setHoverState({ hovered: false });
       onHoverOut?.(e);
     },
@@ -43,7 +45,7 @@ export function useFocusHelper(props: PressableFocusProps): [PressableFocusProps
   const [focusState, setFocusState] = React.useState({ focused: false });
   const { onFocus, onBlur } = props;
   const _onFocus = React.useCallback(
-    (e) => {
+    (e: FocusEvent) => {
       setFocusState({ focused: true });
       onFocus?.(e);
     },
@@ -51,7 +53,7 @@ export function useFocusHelper(props: PressableFocusProps): [PressableFocusProps
   );
 
   const _onBlur = React.useCallback(
-    (e) => {
+    (e: BlurEvent) => {
       setFocusState({ focused: false });
       onBlur?.(e);
     },
@@ -68,7 +70,7 @@ export function usePressHelper(props: PressablePressProps): [PressablePressProps
   const { onPressIn, onPressOut } = props;
 
   const _onPressIn = React.useCallback(
-    (e) => {
+    (e: GestureResponderEvent) => {
       setPressState({ pressed: true });
       onPressIn?.(e);
     },
@@ -76,7 +78,7 @@ export function usePressHelper(props: PressablePressProps): [PressablePressProps
   );
 
   const _onPressOut = React.useCallback(
-    (e) => {
+    (e: GestureResponderEvent) => {
       setPressState({ pressed: false });
       onPressOut?.(e);
     },
diff --git a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/tsconfig.json b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/tsconfig.json
index e7d430457d..32112995aa 100644
--- a/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/tsconfig.json
+++ b/packages/utils/interactive-hooks/tsconfig.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "extends": "@fluentui-react-native/scripts/tsconfig",
+  "extends": "@fluentui-react-native/scripts/tsconfig-strict",
   "compilerOptions": {
     "outDir": "lib",
     "rootDir": "src",
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index ce3ba0605c..b4719b5bd1 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -5074,7 +5074,7 @@ __metadata:
     react-native-macos: "npm:^0.81.0"
     react-native-svg: "npm:^15.12.1"
     react-native-svg-transformer: "npm:^1.0.0"
-    react-native-test-app: "npm:^5.2.3"
+    react-native-test-app: "catalog:"
     react-native-windows: "npm:^0.81.0"
     react-test-renderer: "npm:19.1.4"
     webdriverio: "catalog:"
@@ -5165,7 +5165,7 @@ __metadata:
     react-native: "npm:^0.81.6"
     react-native-svg: "npm:^15.12.1"
     react-native-svg-transformer: "npm:^1.0.0"
-    react-native-test-app: "npm:^5.2.3"
+    react-native-test-app: "catalog:"
     react-test-renderer: "npm:19.1.4"
     rimraf: "catalog:"
   languageName: unknown
@@ -5228,7 +5228,7 @@ __metadata:
     react-native-macos: "npm:^0.81.0"
     react-native-svg: "npm:^15.12.1"
     react-native-svg-transformer: "npm:^1.0.0"
-    react-native-test-app: "npm:^5.2.3"
+    react-native-test-app: "catalog:"
     react-native-windows: "npm:^0.81.0"
     react-test-renderer: "npm:19.1.4"
     webdriverio: "catalog:"
@@ -20717,9 +20717,9 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard
 
-"react-native-test-app@npm:^5.2.3":
-  version: 5.2.3
-  resolution: "react-native-test-app@npm:5.2.3"
+"react-native-test-app@npm:^5.3.3":
+  version: 5.3.3
+  resolution: "react-native-test-app@npm:5.3.3"
   dependencies:
     "@isaacs/cliui": "npm:^9.0.0"
     "@rnx-kit/react-native-host": "npm:^0.5.19"
@@ -20733,7 +20733,7 @@ __metadata:
     "@callstack/react-native-visionos": 0.76 - 0.79
     "@expo/config-plugins": ">=5.0"
     react: 18.2 - 19.2
-    react-native: 0.76 - 0.85 || >=0.85.0-0 <0.86.0
+    react-native: 0.76 - 0.86 || >=0.86.0-0 <0.87.0
     react-native-macos: ^0.0.0-0 || 0.76 - 0.81
     react-native-windows: ^0.0.0-0 || 0.76 - 0.83
   peerDependenciesMeta:
@@ -20750,7 +20750,7 @@ __metadata:
     init: scripts/init.mjs
     init-test-app: scripts/init.mjs
     install-windows-test-app: windows/app.mjs
-  checksum: 10c0/a87c47f93eba76bf2ea7a2f7bfdb2d1925b6bbeb00d67b9f365c5016e1a4ba063f5f1c1d7a86aab3f782b85921b1cbe802290010cca320ae66d762c24ee5683e
+  checksum: 10c0/fb1a8aef116e92f599976b27987ebf303a29ce42a1482e1bc352cfd4f82200cf42b091010e0c4a21d6c85076e8269468d2c1044cbc9a56af77acd3a4d1a4fcb5
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard