diff --git a/.github/actions/get-testing-dataset/action.yaml b/.github/actions/get-testing-dataset/action.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7ea22def
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/get-testing-dataset/action.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+name: "Get MNE testing dataset"
+description: "A composite action to get MNE testing dataset from cache or remote."
+
+runs:
+  using: "composite"
+  steps:
+    - name: Get testing dataset version
+      shell: bash
+      run: curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mne-tools/mne-testing-data/master/version.txt -o mne_testing_data_version.txt
+    - name: Cache testing dataset
+      id: cache
+      uses: actions/cache@v4
+      with:
+        key: mne-testing-${{ runner.os }}-${{ hashFiles('mne_testing_data_version.txt') }}
+        path: ~/mne_data
+    - name: Download testing dataset
+      if: steps.cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+      shell: bash
+      run: python -c "import mne; mne.datasets.testing.data_path(verbose=True)"
+    - name: Remove dataset version file
+      shell: bash
+      run: rm mne_testing_data_version.txt
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yaml b/.github/workflows/publish.yaml
index 6fcb3b14..00c6815c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yaml
@@ -12,11 +12,10 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - name: Setup Python 3.9
+      - name: Setup Python 3.11
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
-          python-version: '3.9'
-          architecture: 'x64'
+          python-version: 3.11
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --progress-bar off --upgrade pip setuptools
@@ -31,4 +30,5 @@ jobs:
           TWINE_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.PYPI_API_TOKEN  }}
         run: |
           python -m build
+          twine check dist/*
           twine upload dist/*
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pytest.yaml b/.github/workflows/pytest.yaml
index d5c9aa47..1bc3f85a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pytest.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pytest.yaml
@@ -38,20 +38,8 @@ jobs:
         run: pycrostates-sys_info --developer
       - name: Display MNE info
         run: mne sys_info -pd
-      - name: Get testing dataset version
-        run: |
-          curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mne-tools/mne-testing-data/master/version.txt -o mne_testing_data_version.txt
-      - name: Cache testing dataset
-        id: cache
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
-        with:
-          key: mne-testing-${{ runner.os }}-${{ hashFiles('mne_testing_data_version.txt') }}
-          path: ~/mne_data
-      - name: Download testing dataset
-        if: steps.cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
-        run: python -c "import mne; mne.datasets.testing.data_path(verbose=True)"
-      - name: Remove dataset version file
-        run: rm mne_testing_data_version.txt
+      - name: Get testing dataset
+        uses: ./.github/actions/get-testing-dataset
       - name: Run pytest
         run: pytest pycrostates --cov=pycrostates --cov-report=xml --cov-config=pyproject.toml
       - name: Upload to codecov
@@ -93,20 +81,8 @@ jobs:
         run: pycrostates-sys_info --developer
       - name: Display MNE info
         run: mne sys_info -pd
-      - name: Get testing dataset version
-        run: |
-          curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mne-tools/mne-testing-data/master/version.txt -o mne_testing_data_version.txt
-      - name: Cache testing dataset
-        id: cache
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
-        with:
-          key: mne-testing-${{ runner.os }}-${{ hashFiles('mne_testing_data_version.txt') }}
-          path: ~/mne_data
-      - name: Download testing dataset
-        if: steps.cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
-        run: python -c "import mne; mne.datasets.testing.data_path(verbose=True)"
-      - name: Remove dataset version file
-        run: rm mne_testing_data_version.txt
+      - name: Get testing dataset
+        uses: ./.github/actions/get-testing-dataset
       - name: Run pytest
         run: pytest pycrostates --cov=pycrostates --cov-report=xml --cov-config=pyproject.toml
       - name: Upload to codecov
diff --git a/.github/workflows/stubs.yaml b/.github/workflows/stubs.yaml
index 890461d2..66a6d10c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/stubs.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/stubs.yaml
@@ -18,11 +18,10 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - name: Setup Python 3.9
+      - name: Setup Python 3.11
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
-          python-version: 3.9
-          architecture: 'x64'
+          python-version: 3.11
       - name: Install package
         run: |
           python -m pip install --progress-bar off --upgrade pip setuptools