diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release_checklist.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release_checklist.yml
index ce168c58e..ced8d1077 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release_checklist.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release_checklist.yml
@@ -1,39 +1,33 @@
 name: Release Checklist
-description: Release managers need to go through this check list and ensure all tasks are done
+description: Public checklist for release managers making a subpackage release
+labels: ["P0"]
+
 body:
   - type: markdown
     attributes:
       value: |
-        Please go through this checklist and ensure all tasks are completed.
-
-  - type: checkboxes
-    id: cuda-bindings-tasks
-    attributes:
-      label: Tasks for cuda-bindings / cuda-python release
-      options:
-        - label: "Push any internal updates for accommodating a new CTK release to the public (**IMPORTANT**: Need to wait for CTK posting!)"
-        - label: "If it is a major release, create a new branch to backport to and update the branch name [here](../BACKPORT_BRANCH)"
-        - label: Follow the check list for `cuda-core` below for the remaining steps
+        This checklist is for cuda-core releases as well as cuda-bindings patches. Please go through this checklist and ensure all tasks are completed.
 
   - type: checkboxes
-    id: cuda-core-tasks
+    id: subpackage-tasks
     attributes:
-      label: Tasks for cuda-core release
+      label: Tasks for cuda-core and cuda-bindings patch release
       options:
         - label: File an internal nvbug to communicate test plan & release schedule with QA
         - label: Ensure all pending PRs are reviewed, tested, and merged
-        - label: Update the dependency requirements, if needed
+        - label: Check (or update if needed) the dependency requirements
         - label: Bump the version
         - label: Create a public rc tag
         - label: "Point QA to fetch public artifacts (wheels) from the GHA run ID, example: `gh run download 12323257563 -p \"cuda-core*\" -R NVIDIA/cuda-python`"
         - label: Wait for QA reports and fix any issues found
-        - label: Finalize the doc update, including release notes
+        - label: "Finalize the doc update, including release notes (\"Note: Touching docstrings/type annotations in code is OK during code freeze, apply your best judgement!\")"
         - label: Update the docs for the new version
         - label: Create a public release tag
         - label: If any code change happens, rebuild the wheels from the new tag
+        - label: Update the conda recipe & release conda packages
+        - label: Upload conda packages to nvidia channel
         - label: Upload wheels to PyPI
+        - label: Post-release QA
         - label: Finalize the announcement update
         - label: Send out the announcement internally
         - label: Send out the announcement externally (GitHub Release -> Announcement)
-        - label: Update the conda recipe & release conda packages
-        - label: Post-release QA