RFID (radio frequency identification) systems are provided in which tag and interrogator devices implement a hybrid framework for signaling including an optical transmitter/receiver system and an RF transmitter/receiver system. For instance, an RFID tag device includes: optical receiver circuitry configured to receive an optical signal having an embedded clock signal from an interrogator device, and convert the optical signal into an electrical signal comprising the embedded clock signal; clock extraction circuitry configured to extract the embedded clock signal from the electrical signal, and output the extracted clock signal as a clock signal for controlling clocking functions of the tag device; voltage regulator circuitry configured to generate a regulated supply voltage from the electrical signal, wherein the regulated supply voltage is utilized as a bias voltage for components of the tag device; and data transmitter circuitry configured to wirelessly transmit tag data to the interrogator device.