diff --git a/.github/workflows/cflite_batch.yml b/.github/workflows/cflite_batch.yml
index c4bceed0..790f7497 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cflite_batch.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cflite_batch.yml
@@ -24,13 +24,13 @@ jobs:
     steps:
     - name: Build Fuzzers (${{ matrix.sanitizer }})
       id: build
-      uses: google/clusterfuzzlite/actions/build_fuzzers@1e163f06cba7820da5154ac9fe1a32d7fe6f73a3 # v1
+      uses: google/clusterfuzzlite/actions/build_fuzzers@884713a6c30a92e5e8544c39945cd7cb630abcd1 # v1
       with:
         language: jvm
         sanitizer: ${{ matrix.sanitizer }}
     - name: Run Fuzzers (${{ matrix.sanitizer }})
       id: run
-      uses: google/clusterfuzzlite/actions/run_fuzzers@1e163f06cba7820da5154ac9fe1a32d7fe6f73a3 # v1
+      uses: google/clusterfuzzlite/actions/run_fuzzers@884713a6c30a92e5e8544c39945cd7cb630abcd1 # v1
       with:
         github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         fuzz-seconds: 3600
diff --git a/.github/workflows/merge.yml b/.github/workflows/merge.yml
index 04b20128..d82baeb3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/merge.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/merge.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@96f53100ba2a5449eb71d2e6604bbcd94b9449b5
     - name: Set up JDK 8
-      uses: actions/setup-java@cd89f46ac9d01407894225f350157564c9c7cee2
+      uses: actions/setup-java@b943a4ed876ec91f6d0cde2181d88d24e8e348de
       with:
         java-version: '8'
         distribution: 'temurin'
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ jobs:
         server-password: ${{ secrets.OSSRH_PASSWORD }}
 
     - name: Cache local Maven repository
-      uses: actions/cache@67b839edb68371cc5014f6cea11c9aa77238de78
+      uses: actions/cache@f7ebb81a3f195b4fb88dab7c14e2f7aff52045aa
       with:
         path: ~/.m2/repository
         key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ jobs:
       run: mvn --batch-mode --update-snapshots verify
 
     - name: Upload coverage to Codecov
-      uses: codecov/codecov-action@eaaf4bedf32dbdc6b720b63067d99c4d77d6047d
+      uses: codecov/codecov-action@e1dd05cde2ed37d100f658b34ea423728ba1812e
       with:
         token: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }} # not required for public repos
         flags: unittests # optional
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pullrequest.yml b/.github/workflows/pullrequest.yml
index 3c3ae95f..51d62680 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pullrequest.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pullrequest.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ permissions:
 jobs:
   build:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # TODO: this can be removed with https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/523
     services:
       flagd:
         image: ghcr.io/open-feature/flagd-testbed:latest
@@ -19,19 +20,19 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@96f53100ba2a5449eb71d2e6604bbcd94b9449b5
 
       - name: Set up JDK 8
-        uses: actions/setup-java@cd89f46ac9d01407894225f350157564c9c7cee2
+        uses: actions/setup-java@b943a4ed876ec91f6d0cde2181d88d24e8e348de
         with:
           java-version: '8'
           distribution: 'temurin'
           cache: maven
 
       - name: Initialize CodeQL
-        uses: github/codeql-action/init@7b6664fa89524ee6e3c3e9749402d5afd69b3cd8
+        uses: github/codeql-action/init@9e4932e2919d7a061a0cb982d1f9d841120ea6df
         with:
           languages: java
 
       - name: Cache local Maven repository
-        uses: actions/cache@67b839edb68371cc5014f6cea11c9aa77238de78
+        uses: actions/cache@f7ebb81a3f195b4fb88dab7c14e2f7aff52045aa
         with:
           path: ~/.m2/repository
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-maven-${{ hashFiles('**/pom.xml') }}
@@ -39,10 +40,10 @@ jobs:
             ${{ runner.os }}-maven-
 
       - name: Verify with Maven
-        run: mvn --batch-mode --update-snapshots verify -P e2e-test
+        run: mvn --batch-mode --update-snapshots --activate-profiles e2e-test verify
 
       - name: Upload coverage to Codecov
-        uses: codecov/codecov-action@eaaf4bedf32dbdc6b720b63067d99c4d77d6047d
+        uses: codecov/codecov-action@e1dd05cde2ed37d100f658b34ea423728ba1812e
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }} # not required for public repos
           flags: unittests # optional
@@ -51,4 +52,4 @@ jobs:
           verbose: true # optional (default = false)
 
       - name: Perform CodeQL Analysis
-        uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@7b6664fa89524ee6e3c3e9749402d5afd69b3cd8
+        uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@9e4932e2919d7a061a0cb982d1f9d841120ea6df
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 3c9bef90..a8b9d79d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@96f53100ba2a5449eb71d2e6604bbcd94b9449b5
       - name: Set up JDK 8
         if: ${{ steps.release.outputs.releases_created }}
-        uses: actions/setup-java@cd89f46ac9d01407894225f350157564c9c7cee2
+        uses: actions/setup-java@b943a4ed876ec91f6d0cde2181d88d24e8e348de
         with:
           java-version: '8'
           distribution: 'temurin'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/static-code-scanning.yaml b/.github/workflows/static-code-scanning.yaml
index 114343a6..a6f3761f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/static-code-scanning.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/static-code-scanning.yaml
@@ -33,12 +33,12 @@ jobs:
 
       # Initializes the CodeQL tools for scanning.
       - name: Initialize CodeQL
-        uses: github/codeql-action/init@7b6664fa89524ee6e3c3e9749402d5afd69b3cd8
+        uses: github/codeql-action/init@9e4932e2919d7a061a0cb982d1f9d841120ea6df
         with:
           languages: java
 
       - name: Autobuild
-        uses: github/codeql-action/autobuild@7b6664fa89524ee6e3c3e9749402d5afd69b3cd8
+        uses: github/codeql-action/autobuild@9e4932e2919d7a061a0cb982d1f9d841120ea6df
 
       - name: Perform CodeQL Analysis
-        uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@7b6664fa89524ee6e3c3e9749402d5afd69b3cd8
+        uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@9e4932e2919d7a061a0cb982d1f9d841120ea6df
diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index c9735194..9b090798 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{".":"1.4.1"}
\ No newline at end of file
+{".":"1.4.2"}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 64cba4e5..c5d0238b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,38 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [1.4.2](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/compare/v1.4.1...v1.4.2) (2023-08-10)
+
+
+### 🐛 Bug Fixes
+
+* getState now mandatory on EventProvider ([#531](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/531)) ([37fd2be](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/37fd2be673e1316ae05e5f36b49613cb61209fbc))
+
+
+### 🧹 Chore
+
+* add todos, fix submodule pull ([#543](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/543)) ([4972291](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/497229127668bd433ae0bd9e9bed3e75a4ef0d7d))
+* **deps:** update actions/cache digest to f7ebb81 ([#549](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/549)) ([a73083d](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/a73083def4cc49a328d122b36323341e1f64d1cc))
+* **deps:** update actions/setup-java digest to b943a4e ([#536](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/536)) ([90c931a](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/90c931acd9aab1f2b7c0cd85d851d82219852cb7))
+* **deps:** update actions/setup-java digest to c16064d ([#533](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/533)) ([fc034c3](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/fc034c328483735e7dbd973d2897af6f2ce8ef4a))
+* **deps:** update codecov/codecov-action digest to e1dd05c ([#540](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/540)) ([7d4981f](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/7d4981f429bc0107082fb84eec068c575d2645f6))
+* **deps:** update dependency com.google.guava:guava to v32.1.2-jre ([#538](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/538)) ([0676f4d](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/0676f4d24bcbde4ebcd0b284db00853778b1c892))
+* **deps:** update github/codeql-action digest to 055b396 ([#530](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/530)) ([5c4bc86](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/5c4bc86139f04a124b2d279def2348023188feac))
+* **deps:** update github/codeql-action digest to 1a48007 ([#529](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/529)) ([b8194ec](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/b8194ec13e09cfe71f01cb23de7e6a7f5b8ca262))
+* **deps:** update github/codeql-action digest to 1f63aba ([#544](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/544)) ([9f03c0e](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/9f03c0ea32513e3559c18f346b4e7b56d9659501))
+* **deps:** update github/codeql-action digest to 2192e34 ([#542](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/542)) ([c545ed5](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/c545ed568071348ab1826383059d2d6c925c846f))
+* **deps:** update github/codeql-action digest to 4e9f8a2 ([#548](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/548)) ([5985005](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/5985005ddad9d8cbd24a09c720f5ae9973508897))
+* **deps:** update github/codeql-action digest to 57a11be ([#526](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/526)) ([6590d84](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/6590d84f6e14ba82d137ad56d730fc3243ff0e4b))
+* **deps:** update github/codeql-action digest to 6276217 ([#532](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/532)) ([6ccefbb](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/6ccefbb8bc622b257e4701006ccfcc67f81bcea3))
+* **deps:** update github/codeql-action digest to 7b79062 ([#541](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/541)) ([0ecf7b5](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/0ecf7b598462b5bc068a228ce678a758f9461fe3))
+* **deps:** update github/codeql-action digest to 81ae676 ([#534](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/534)) ([323083d](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/323083d7e9789761ce18ac8c500346a8f632d235))
+* **deps:** update github/codeql-action digest to 878ae4a ([#547](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/547)) ([0336c02](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/0336c02eeba1df03182ebedca3ac2d19cb4ef77b))
+* **deps:** update github/codeql-action digest to 9e4932e ([#550](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/550)) ([6ce68de](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/6ce68de437e40bc0098480fb1f1900c5c3850a1e))
+* **deps:** update github/codeql-action digest to a6b0ced ([#537](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/537)) ([f012604](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/f0126043f20541af40d73b8a9b755a774358d4e8))
+* **deps:** update github/codeql-action digest to c57b27e ([#528](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/528)) ([3a8e262](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/3a8e262da4ecc08a377e69634b01d821abdd4fdc))
+* **deps:** update github/codeql-action digest to e7e35ba ([#539](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/539)) ([18b4fc0](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/18b4fc095851efb5351c1283f52a3d8f4407c5d2))
+* **deps:** update google/clusterfuzzlite digest to 884713a ([#551](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/551)) ([4d04996](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/4d049965716cef005f96146eaa909e50fc2fe73e))
+* fix race with events tests ([#545](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/545)) ([8789f90](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/commit/8789f90d337bddd9c330a7291565d0f2dfc2761c))
+
 ## [1.4.1](https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/compare/v1.4.0...v1.4.1) (2023-07-24)
 
 
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index b7ffa9a7..63c9d533 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ If you're adding tests to cover something in the spec, use the `@Specification`
 
 ## End-to-End Tests
 
+<!-- TODO: this section should be updated with https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/523 -->
+
 The continuous integration runs a set of [gherkin e2e tests](https://github.com/open-feature/test-harness/blob/main/features/evaluation.feature) using [`flagd`](https://github.com/open-feature/flagd). These tests do not run with the default maven profile. If you'd like to run them locally, you can start the flagd testbed with
 
 ```
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bc6dcd8c..3a48562a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ Note that this library is intended to be used in server-side contexts and has no
 <dependency>
     <groupId>dev.openfeature</groupId>
     <artifactId>sdk</artifactId>
-    <version>1.4.1</version>
+    <version>1.4.2</version>
 </dependency>
 ```
 <!-- x-release-please-end-version -->
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ If you would like snapshot builds, this is the relevant repository information:
 <!-- x-release-please-start-version -->
 ```groovy
 dependencies {
-    implementation 'dev.openfeature:sdk:1.4.1'
+    implementation 'dev.openfeature:sdk:1.4.2'
 }
 ```
 <!-- x-release-please-end-version -->
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index e8761b9d..79d142df 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
   <groupId>dev.openfeature</groupId>
   <artifactId>sdk</artifactId>
-  <version>1.4.1</version> <!--x-release-please-version -->
+  <version>1.4.2</version> <!--x-release-please-version -->
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@
     <dependency>
       <groupId>com.google.guava</groupId>
       <artifactId>guava</artifactId>
-      <version>32.1.1-jre</version>
+      <version>32.1.2-jre</version>
       <scope>test</scope>
     </dependency>
 
@@ -497,6 +497,8 @@
 
     <profile>
       <!-- this profile handles running the flagd e2e tests -->
+      <!-- TODO: this profile can likely be removed with TODO: this section should be updated with https://github.com/open-feature/java-sdk/issues/523 -->
+      <!-- TODO: we should pull the submodule and run these tests unconditionall once flagd isn't required -->
       <id>e2e-test</id>
       <properties>
         <!-- run the e2e tests by clearing the exclusions -->
@@ -523,7 +525,7 @@
                     <argument>submodule</argument>
                     <argument>update</argument>
                     <argument>--init</argument>
-                    <argument>--recursive</argument>
+                    <argument>test-harness</argument>
                   </arguments>
                 </configuration>
               </execution>
diff --git a/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProvider.java b/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProvider.java
index de12b077..928b96f4 100644
--- a/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProvider.java
+++ b/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProvider.java
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@
  */
 public abstract class EventProvider implements FeatureProvider {
 
+    /**
+     * {@inheritDoc}
+     */
+    @Override
+    public abstract ProviderState getState();
+
     private TriConsumer<EventProvider, ProviderEvent, ProviderEventDetails> onEmit = null;
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventSupport.java b/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventSupport.java
index 6558f969..3a55f298 100644
--- a/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventSupport.java
+++ b/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventSupport.java
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class EventSupport {
     // we use a v4 uuid as a "placeholder" for anonymous clients, since
     // ConcurrentHashMap doesn't support nulls
     private static final String defaultClientUuid = UUID.randomUUID().toString();
-    private static final ExecutorService taskExecutor = Executors.newCachedThreadPool();
+    private final ExecutorService taskExecutor = Executors.newCachedThreadPool();
     private final Map<String, HandlerStore> handlerStores = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
     private final HandlerStore globalHandlerStore = new HandlerStore();
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/FeatureProvider.java b/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/FeatureProvider.java
index 933166fa..e1e06d0a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/FeatureProvider.java
+++ b/src/main/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/FeatureProvider.java
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ default List<Hook> getProviderHooks() {
      * if they have special initialization needed prior being called for flag
      * evaluation.
      * <p>
-     * It is ok, if the method is expensive as it is executed in the background. All
+     * It is ok if the method is expensive as it is executed in the background. All
      * runtime exceptions will be
      * caught and logged.
      * </p>
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ default void initialize(EvaluationContext evaluationContext) throws Exception {
      * Providers can overwrite this method, if they have special shutdown actions
      * needed.
      * <p>
-     * It is ok, if the method is expensive as it is executed in the background. All
+     * It is ok if the method is expensive as it is executed in the background. All
      * runtime exceptions will be
      * caught and logged.
      * </p>
@@ -57,7 +57,11 @@ default void shutdown() {
 
     /**
      * Returns a representation of the current readiness of the provider.
-     * Providers which do not implement this method are assumed to be ready immediately.
+     * If the provider needs to be initialized, it should return {@link ProviderState#NOT_READY}.
+     * If the provider is in an error state, it should return {@link ProviderState#ERROR}.
+     * If the provider is functioning normally, it should return {@link ProviderState#READY}.
+     * 
+     * <p><i>Providers which do not implement this method are assumed to be ready immediately.</i></p>
      * 
      * @return ProviderState
      */
diff --git a/src/test/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProviderTest.java b/src/test/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProviderTest.java
index cb73b529..3744682b 100644
--- a/src/test/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProviderTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/dev/openfeature/sdk/EventProviderTest.java
@@ -121,6 +121,11 @@ public ProviderEvaluation<Value> getObjectEvaluation(String key, Value defaultVa
             // TODO Auto-generated method stub
             throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Unimplemented method 'getObjectEvaluation'");
         }
+
+        @Override
+        public ProviderState getState() {
+            return ProviderState.READY;
+        }
     }
 
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
diff --git a/version.txt b/version.txt
index 347f5833..9df886c4 100644
--- a/version.txt
+++ b/version.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.4.1
+1.4.2