diff --git a/dotnet/samples/README.md b/dotnet/samples/README.md
index d6f2f5c39c..db0202794a 100644
--- a/dotnet/samples/README.md
+++ b/dotnet/samples/README.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ The samples are subdivided into the following categories:
 - [Getting Started - Agent Providers](./GettingStarted/AgentProviders/README.md): Shows how to create an AIAgent instance for a selection of providers.
 - [Getting Started - Agent Telemetry](./GettingStarted/AgentOpenTelemetry/README.md): Demo which showcases the integration of OpenTelemetry with the Microsoft Agent Framework using Azure OpenAI and .NET Aspire Dashboard for telemetry visualization.
 - [Semantic Kernel to Agent Framework Migration](https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel/tree/main/dotnet/samples/AgentFrameworkMigration): For instructions and samples describing how to migrate from Semantic Kernel to Microsoft Agent Framework
+- [Azure Functions](./AzureFunctions/README.md): Samples for using the Microsoft Agent Framework with Azure Functions via the durable task extension.
 
 ## Prerequisites
 
diff --git a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.DurableTask/DurableAgentJsonUtilities.cs b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.DurableTask/DurableAgentJsonUtilities.cs
index 3d702ce000..e3864e9ad4 100644
--- a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.DurableTask/DurableAgentJsonUtilities.cs
+++ b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.DurableTask/DurableAgentJsonUtilities.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright (c) Microsoft. All rights reserved.
 
 using System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis;
+using System.Text.Encodings.Web;
 using System.Text.Json;
 using System.Text.Json.Serialization;
 using Microsoft.Agents.AI.DurableTask.State;
@@ -58,10 +59,20 @@ internal static partial class DurableAgentJsonUtilities
     private static JsonSerializerOptions CreateDefaultOptions()
     {
         // Base configuration from the source-generated context below.
-        JsonSerializerOptions options = new(JsonContext.Default.Options);
+        JsonSerializerOptions options = new(JsonContext.Default.Options)
+        {
+            Encoder = JavaScriptEncoder.UnsafeRelaxedJsonEscaping, // same as AgentAbstractionsJsonUtilities and AIJsonUtilities
+        };
 
         // Chain in shared abstractions resolver (Microsoft.Extensions.AI + Agent abstractions) so dependent types are covered.
+        options.TypeInfoResolverChain.Clear();
         options.TypeInfoResolverChain.Add(AgentAbstractionsJsonUtilities.DefaultOptions.TypeInfoResolver!);
+        options.TypeInfoResolverChain.Add(JsonContext.Default.Options.TypeInfoResolver!);
+
+        if (JsonSerializer.IsReflectionEnabledByDefault)
+        {
+            options.Converters.Add(new JsonStringEnumConverter());
+        }
 
         options.MakeReadOnly();
         return options;
diff --git a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.DurableTask/DurableAgentThread.cs b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.DurableTask/DurableAgentThread.cs
index 8dd2b73609..32dea2cb18 100644
--- a/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.DurableTask/DurableAgentThread.cs
+++ b/dotnet/src/Microsoft.Agents.AI.DurableTask/DurableAgentThread.cs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public sealed class DurableAgentThread : AgentThread
     /// <param name="serializedThread">The serialized thread data.</param>
     /// <param name="jsonSerializerOptions">Optional JSON serializer options.</param>
     /// <returns>The deserialized DurableAgentThread.</returns>
-    public static DurableAgentThread Deserialize(JsonElement serializedThread, JsonSerializerOptions? jsonSerializerOptions = null)
+    internal static DurableAgentThread Deserialize(JsonElement serializedThread, JsonSerializerOptions? jsonSerializerOptions = null)
     {
         if (!serializedThread.TryGetProperty("sessionId", out JsonElement sessionIdElement) ||
             sessionIdElement.ValueKind != JsonValueKind.String)